Last week our family was a little under the weather, so creativity felt a bit harder to come by. At times like that, I find it helps to simply play without expectations, and that's exactly how these backgrounds began.  

Would you believe that this background started as nothing more than a blank piece of Very Vanilla cardstock?

I really enjoy creating my own patterned paper. For this project, I was inspired by autumn tones, but wanted to give them a fresh twist by letting warm purples take centre stage, with rust and soft mint greens as the accents.

I enjoyed the first background so much that I couldn't resist creating a bonus variation, this time building it over a patterned paper scrap base. This retired Petals and Paisley's paper inspired my colour palette. It's always fun to see how a small change can create a completely different look.

These friendship cards were inspired by several current cardmaking challenges. The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge encouraged me to incorporate text into my background, which is one of my favourite ways to add subtle layers of interest. The All About Craft Challenge is celebrating friendship, so I chose sentiments featuring the word "friend," while the Festive Friday National Friendship Day challenge inspired the finishing touches—a knotted gold bow, tone-on-tone stamped leaves, and delicate little floral details added to the background to bring everything together.

I'd love to know—which of the two cards is your favourite?

Craft Along With Me

If you'd like to make these cards along with me, I've filmed a bonus craft-along tutorial that will be shared as my August subscriber freebie.

If you'd like to join my crafty community and receive the tutorial, simply add your email address in the sign-up box in the sidebar. I'll send the August freebie directly to your inbox when it's released.

It's my little way of saying thank you for being part of my crafty community, and I hope it inspires you to create your own custom backgrounds in colours you love.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Jenn x

Playing with Purple: Autumn Cards Featuring Hand-Stamped Patterned Paper

July 27, 2026

I love finding new ways to stretch the supplies I already own, and this project was the perfect excuse to experiment with a technique that gave me an unexpected bonus  — a second handmade background!

I started by digging through my paper scraps and found several narrow strips of the Merry Little Christmas green leaf patterned paper on a white background. Knowing I wanted to try this emboss resist technique one more time, I pulled out an older dinosaur stamp set, No Bones About It, featuring solid image stamps, and created my own custom patterned paper.

I first patched all the strips together on a piece of scrap printer paper to create a single panel ready for stamping. I then filled in the remaining spaces with coordinating elements, including footprints, spots and small accent stamps. These extra details helped create a fuller, more interesting pattern.

Next came the fun part! I stamped and heat embossed the dinosaur images with clear embossing powder before blending several shades of green ink over the entire panel. Once the ink blending was complete, I removed the embossing using the ironing technique, revealing the original stamped pattern beneath.

This time, I placed a piece of Basic White cardstock over the embossed panel before ironing. As the embossing melted away, it transferred onto the clean cardstock, creating the beginnings of a second distressed background.

After adding a little more stamping and soft ink blending, that transferred panel became a completely different piece of handmade patterned paper.

One technique... two unique backgrounds!

I finished both cards using the same Just Add Ink sketch challenge. This sketch was perfect for these projects. Because I had used scrap strip offcuts of patterned paper to build the background, embracing those cuts helped disguise where the ink caught along the edges of the strips and made the imperfections look intentional.

I also love that this particular layout allowed each background to shine while keeping the overall designs clean and simple.


Both finished cards have their own personality. The original panel has deep jungle vibes, while the transferred background has a wonderfully distressed, imperfect look that gives it plenty of character.

Sometimes the most interesting techniques come from experimenting with what would normally be thrown away.

Watch the Video Tutorial

See the full step-by-step process and discover how one emboss resist technique creates two unique card backgrounds.

Don't forget to subscribe so you can see the newest tutorials as soon as they are released.








DIY Dinosaur Patterned Paper with a Fun 2 for 1 Emboss Resist Twist

July 12, 2026

There's something so satisfying about turning older supplies and leftover scraps into fresh new projects. These cards feature patterned papers that have been sitting in my stash for 14 years 😳 

For this pair of cards, I pulled out some offcuts of Everyday Enchantment patterned paper from my stash that featured a playful blue background with red spots. The scraps weren't large enough to cover a full card front, so I pieced them together onto cardstock before creating my own custom background.

To add another layer of interest, I stamped solid hot air balloon images from the Above the Clouds stamp set across the panel and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder.

Once the embossing was complete, I blended ink over the entire background, gradually building colour from rich reds at the bottom through pinks and purples before finishing with blue near the top. The finished result reminded me of a colourful sunset sky.

After blending, I used the ironing technique to remove the clear embossing. For this experiment, I placed a piece of Basic White cardstock over the embossed panel before ironing. The transferred embossing created the foundation for a second handmade background with a beautifully distressed appearance.

Although the transferred panel looked quite simple at first, it quickly came to life after I added a little extra stamping and soft ink blending. The imperfect transferred images created a wonderfully textured background that felt completely different from the original while still coordinating perfectly.

The layout for this second card is based on by this week's Freshly Made Sketch challenge. 

This experiment has been playing on my mind since I first experimented with Emboss Resist for my Autumn-inspired project back in May. At the time, I noticed that the clear embossing transferred onto the scrap paper I used to protect the project from the iron. I wondered: what would happen if I transferred that pattern onto a piece of cardstock instead?

That simple question led to a fun two-for-one technique, creating two completely different backgrounds from one creative process.

It reminded me that some of the best creative discoveries happen simply by asking, "What if I tried this?"

Watch the Video Tutorial

See the full step-by-step process and discover how one emboss resist technique creates two unique card backgrounds.

Don't forget to subscribe so you can see the newest tutorials as soon as they are released.



2 for 1: Sunset Hot Air Balloon Backgrounds with Emboss Resist

This week's Use Your Scraps project was inspired by the latest TGIF Challenges theme, "Popping It Up." 

When I saw the challenge, I immediately thought of the Floating Strips Technique that I'd been wanting to try. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to use up all those narrow cardstock strips that seem to accumulate on my craft desk.

For my first card, I followed the traditional technique after watching a few tutorials online. I paired the floating strips with this month's Stampin' Up! colour challenge colours and added an inlaid die-cut spray of leaves through the centre of the floating circle. 

I absolutely love the finished result—the floating strips create such a striking effect—but I quickly discovered that the inlaid die-cutting made the project quite fiddly.

That got me thinking… could I simplify the design while still keeping the beautiful floating effect?

For my second card, I swapped the intricate inlaid design for a stamped lighthouse image layered over the floating strips. The finished card has a completely different feel, creating a simple masculine design that really shows how versatile this technique can be. 

Thank you Atlantic Hearts Sketch for inspiration in bringing this one together!

By this point I had plenty of leftover strips sitting on my desk, and another question popped into my mind. Most Floating Strips Technique tutorials use window sheet (acetate) to hold the strips together. 

But what if you don't have any? Could the technique still work?

So I decided to experiment.

Inspired by this week's Simon Says Stamps 'Stars and/or Stripes' challenge, I reached for a large star-shaped die, and arranged my leftover strips in rainbow order, securing them temporarily with washi tape before running them through my die-cutting machine. I also created a simple cardstock template using the same die so I could place each strip back into position after die-cutting. 

To my delight, it worked! While it isn't exactly the same as using window sheet, it creates a very similar effect using supplies most cardmakers already have.

I finished the design using the current Global Design Project Sketch challenge as inspiration. 

One of my favourite things about crafting is following an idea to see where it leads. What began as simply trying a new technique quickly turned into three different cards, each exploring a slightly different approach. Along the way, I not only discovered a beautiful design but also found a simpler version and a way to create the look without acetate. That's exactly why I love experimenting—it often leads to ideas I'd never have discovered if I'd stopped after the first card.

Watch the Video

If you'd like to see exactly how these cards came together, along with all the tips and tricks I discovered along the way, be sure to watch this week's video. I'd also love to know which of the three versions is your favourite!

If you've been wanting to try the Floating Strips Technique, I hope these three variations inspire you to give it a go—whether you follow the traditional method or experiment with your own twist.


Floating Strips Technique 3 Ways

July 1, 2026

After creating a bright and colourful sunburst card, I found myself wondering how the same technique might look with a softer colour palette, which led to today's tone on tone card featuring a playful paper pieced mermaid.

Bright Cardmaking Colour Palette

The jungle colour palette at As You See It Challenge features Coastal Cabana, a rich aqua blue. I decided to pair this bright tone with scraps of pool party to create a tone on tone sunburst. The result creates plenty of texture and visual interest while maintaining a calm, cohesive feel.

I love how a simple change in colour palette can completely transform a technique. The same sunburst background that felt bold and energetic in my previous project suddenly became elegant and serene. It's a wonderful reminder that colour choices play a huge role in shaping the mood of a handmade card.

Magical Day Mermaid

The layout for this project was inspired by a sketch challenge from Sunday Stamps. Once the background was complete, I began thinking about a focal image. Although I didn’t set out with a strict beach theme at the beginning, the colours and soft layered textures naturally steered the design in that direction, evoking calm seaside waters and coastal vibes. I wanted something playful, so I chose a mermaid image from my collection, which fits beautifully with the current Simon Says Stamp “At the Beach” challenge.

To colour the mermaid, I used a paper piecing technique, one of my favourite ways to use even the smallest paper scraps.

Watch the Video

Free Scrap Busting Cardmaking Printable (Subscriber Bonus)

If you enjoyed this project and the idea of turning paper scraps into something completely new, I’ve put together a free Cardmaking with Scraps printable as a welcome gift for email subscribers.

It’s a great next step if you’d like more inspiration for using up your stash in a fun, relaxed way.

👉 You can access the free printable (and the growing subscriber library) when you join my email list here:
https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2095513/189121847385654530/share

Happy crafting!

Tone on Tone Sunburst Background with a Paper Pieced Mermaid

June 24, 2026

This scrap paper card began with a challenge to "shop my stash" and quickly turned into a colourful handmade summer card inspired by sunshine, holidays and happy memories.


Summer Vacation Themed Card

The starting point for this project was the Shopping Our Stash "Summertime" challenge. I wanted to create something bright and cheerful while also making a dent in my ever-growing pile of leftovers. That's when the idea for a sunburst card background came to mind.

Scrap Patterned Paper Sunburst

The colour palette was inspired by the current challenge at All About papercraft challenges. I pulled together scraps in a range of oranges, yellow and blue tones and arranged them around the centre of the card. The combination immediately felt bright, playful and perfect for a summer card. 

As with many creative projects, the card evolved as I worked. Once the sunburst was assembled, I added a small rectangular panel over the centre point. This not only covered the joins where all the paper scraps met, but also created the perfect place to build my focal cluster.

The finishing details were inspired by the Time Out vacation theme challenge. As soon as I started thinking about vacations and summertime adventures, I knew I wanted elements that reflected travel and memory-making. So I added a film frame die cut, a small sun embellishment and a camera image. Together, these elements reminded me of summer holidays, sightseeing adventures, taking photographs and capturing special moments with family and friends. 

Watch The Video

If you have a collection of patterned paper scraps sitting in your craft room, I encourage you to give this scrap busting card project a try. Sunburst backgrounds are surprisingly easy to create, work beautifully on a DIY greeting card, and can be adapted to suit almost any colour palette or theme.

Free Scrap Busting Cardmaking Printable (Subscriber Bonus)

If you enjoyed this project and the idea of turning patterned paper scraps into something completely new, I’ve put together a free Cardmaking with Scraps printable as a welcome gift for email subscribers.

It’s a great next step if you’d like more inspiration for using up your stash in a fun, relaxed way.

👉 You can access the free printable (and the growing subscriber library) when you join my email list here:
https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2095513/189121847385654530/share

Happy crafting!

A Sunburst Card from Scrap Paper | Summer Vacation Theme

This week's project started with June's challenge photo from the Inspiration Station blog, featuring a basket of strawberries. The texture in the basket immediately reminded me of the paper weaving technique I shared back in Season One of Cardmaking with Scraps. Instead of using the weaving as a background, though, I wondered if I could make my own little basket and turn it into the feature of the card.

Creating a Card Entirely from Scraps

Working entirely from scraps, I wove narrow strips of Crumb Cake cardstock to create a miniature basket. This kraft basket is the perfect fit for this fortnight's Shop Your Stash blog's KRAFT-astic challenge, which encourages the use of kraft papers.

From there, I needed to add some strawberries. I don't actually own a strawberry stamp or die, but luckily they're pretty simple to draw! I chose a selection of rich pink scraps inspired by the Sunday Stamps Garden Grandeur colour palette. 

The deep greens in the patterned paper and foliage were also inspired by this palette, while the spotted background tied in beautifully with an optional dots theme at this month's Paper Funday challenge. 

To pull all of the elements together, I followed the current sketch from the As You See It Challenge.

A Fresh Way to Use Paper Weaving in Cardmaking

What I love most about this project is that it shows how a technique can evolve. The same paper weaving method that once created a background became a dimensional embellishment instead, proving that sometimes a fresh look at the scraps already on your desk can lead to something completely new.

Watch the Video 

Free Cardmaking with Scraps Printable (June Subscriber Bonus)

If you'd like to see the original woven background project that inspired this little basket feature, my Cardmaking with Scraps printable is currently available as a free download for email subscribers throughout June. It's a fun way to explore the technique in its original form before experimenting with your own creative twists.

👉 You can access it through the subscriber library when you join my email list.

The Cutest Way to Use Up Paper Scraps 🍓 | A Paper Weaving Twist

June 11, 2026

One of the things I love about creating backgrounds from scraps is that every piece turns out differently. This abstract landscape-inspired background was so much fun to put together, using a mix of leftover cardstock scraps to create a colourful scene.

The challenge, of course, comes after the background is finished. Once you've created something this detailed, it can be surprisingly difficult to decide how to turn it into a finished card without covering up all that hard work!

Turning a DIY Background into a Finished Card

When I'm feeling a little stuck, I often turn to challenge blogs for inspiration, and this card ended up drawing ideas from several current challenges. The starting point was the Hot Air Balloon Day challenge at Festive Friday. As soon as I saw the theme, I knew hot air balloons would be the perfect addition to this landscape-style background. 

As per the challenge theme, I incorporated a hot air balloon, a birthday theme, bunting, primary colours and epoxy embellishments. The hot air balloon adds a playful focal point while still allowing the background to remain the star of the show.

To help with the card layout, I also drew inspiration from the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge. I added layers of vellum and a scrap of blue polka dot patterned paper behind the hot air balloon to create a central focal area while still letting the background shine through. 

The "Just Add Polka Dots" challenge at Just Add Ink, inspired me to reach for some spotty patterned papers both in the background and on the hot air balloon itself, adding another layer of interest and texture to the finished design.

Watch the Tutorial

Creating DIY Patterned Paper from Scraps

If you enjoy this kind of scrap-based cardmaking, I’ve also put together a free Cardmaking with Scraps printable guide for email subscribers.

It includes 8 scrap-friendly card projects with measurements, photos and step-by-step “recipes” you can keep beside your desk for inspiration when you’re working through your stash.

👉 You can access it through the subscriber library when you join my email list.


A Landscape Built from Leftovers

June 1, 2026

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