Sparkly Handmade Bookmarks ✨ | Flower Craft Festival Day 8

 For Day 8 of the Flower Craft Festival, I decided to make something a little different – sparkly handmade bookmarks! These are such a fun project if you love papercrafting but want to create something practical as well as pretty. They make lovely little gifts, are perfect for tucking into a card, and of course add a touch of handmade magic to your favourite book.

 The bases of my bookmarks were die cut into long panels, and then I decorated them using one of my favourite sparkle techniques: double-sided tape with glitter. By applying the tape and sprinkling loose glitter over the top, I created bold, sparkly accents that catch the light beautifully. It’s such an easy way to add sparkle without needing glitter cardstock. I kept the designs simple so the glitter could shine, adding floral die cuts for decoration and finishing with tassels and ribbons at the top. The best part? These are quick and easy to make, so you can create a whole batch in one sitting – ideal if you need teacher gifts, party favours, or just want to brighten up your own reading time.

Crafty Tip: Easy Glitter Stripes  

 Lay down strips of double-sided tape directly onto your project, peel away the backing, then sprinkle with fine glitter. Tap off the excess and you’ll have perfectly sparkly stripes with no fuss – and in any colour glitter you like! 

 Watch the Tutorial on YouTube

I’ve shared a step-by-step tutorial on my YouTube channel showing exactly how I made these glittery bookmarks.

You’ll also find all the other Flower Craft Festival projects linked there, so you can enjoy even more floral inspiration.

Why I Love This Project

• Practical and pretty – the best combination!

• Great way to use up scraps of cardstock.

• Double-sided tape and glitter = maximum sparkle with minimal effort.

• Quick to make, but still feels thoughtful and special.

  Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you don’t miss upcoming collaborations, tutorials, and cardmaking ideas.

5 Fun Shaped Cards with Creative Stamping Issue 150

 I had so much fun playing with the stamps from Creative Stamping Issue 150! For this project, I wanted to do something a little different and create shaped cards using just the stamps and some simple basic shapes. The result? Five playful designs that are easy to recreate and perfect for so many occasions.

The 5 Shaped Cards

• Pumpkin Card – A warm autumnal card featuring cosy coffee and leaves, perfect for seasonal greetings.

• Donut Card – Bright and cheerful, stamped with fun sweet treats and perfect for a birthday card.

• Coffee Cup Card – A to-go coffee cup shape, stamped with autumn details and a sentiment that’s perfect for a coffee-loving friend.

• Mushroom Card – A cute and whimsical shaped card with a stamped background that makes it feel playful and fun.

• Cupcake Card – Decorated with embossed texture and topped with sweet stamped designs, perfect for a cheerful greeting. 

 

 Each card uses simple shapes as the base — circles, ovals, rectangles — so they’re quick and easy to put together, but still look extra special. Why I Love These Cards Shaped cards are a great way to stretch your supplies and think outside the box. You don’t need fancy dies to make them — just basic shaped dies, scissors, or a cutting machine, plus the gorgeous stamp set from the magazine.

 

Watch the Tutorial I filmed a step-by-step video showing all 5 of these shaped cards in detail. You can watch it over on my YouTube channel here: 

 

 

 

I’d love to know which card is your favourite! Let me know in the comments below.

 

#FlowerCraftFest - Day 7 - Mandala shaped card with heat embossed flowers

 

There’s something extra special about a shaped card – it instantly feels unique and gives that “wow” factor before the recipient even opens it. For this design, I paired a mandala die set with the echinacea die set to create a floral mandala card that’s both intricate and elegant.

 

 

 

 

The card base is created with the largest mandala die, using a simple hinge technique so it opens like a regular card. I then layered another mandala panel on top and added my die-cut echinacea flowers for decoration. To make the flowers really stand out, I used a special heat embossing technique where just one embossing powder gave me three different shades of shine and sparkle. Depending on how the light hits, the petals shift beautifully – adding depth and a touch of magic to the design without needing multiple powders.

 

Crafty Tip: Translucent Embossing Powders   

Translucent embossing powders are a brilliant way to stretch your supplies! Because they’re see-through, the colour underneath will affect the final result. Try heat embossing the same powder on light vs dark cardstock and watch it transform into completely different shades. It’s like getting multiple powders in one! 

 

 

 About the Collaboration

This card is part of a fun [insert collab name] YouTube hop, where a group of us crafters have come together to share unique projects and ideas. It’s always inspiring to see how differently everyone approaches the same theme, and I love being part of such a supportive and creative community.

 

Watch the Tutorial on YouTube

 

I’ve shared a step-by-step video tutorial on my YouTube channel, showing you how I built the mandala-shaped base, layered the design, and added that magical heat-embossed shine to the echinacea flowers. Click here to watch the video and make sure to hop along to the other creators for even more inspiration! ⸻  

 

 

 Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you don’t miss upcoming collaborations, tutorials, and cardmaking ideas.

Zero waste with these 3 techniques to use background panel dies / Die Cutting Essentials Issue 131

 3 Background Panel Cards I recently created three cards using just one background panel die – and I love how different they all turned out!

 

Background panel dies are such a great investment because you can use the full panel, the leftover pieces, or even mix and match to create completely new designs. It’s always fun to see how one die can stretch so far and give you unique results each time. Nothing goes to waste, and you end up with cards that look totally different but all tie together beautifully.

 I’ve shared these cards in more detail over on my YouTube channel, so if you’d like a closer look and some extra tips, be sure to check out the video. 

 

My Published Cards in Simply Cards & Papercraft Issue 272 ✨

 

I’m so excited to share some wonderful news with you today – one of my latest commissions has been published in Simply Cards & Papercraft Magazine, Issue 272

 

 

For this feature, I had the joy of working with some of the elements from the stunning Tile Collection by Jamie Rodgers. The colours, patterns, and versatility of this collection made it such a dream to design with. I created five different cards, each showcasing a range of techniques and ideas that you can easily try at home. From layering panels to adding dimension and experimenting with bold colour palettes, these cards highlight just how creative you can get with one collection. What I love most is how each design has its own personality, but they all tie together beautifully thanks to the coordinating elements. 

 

A Few Highlights 

 

• Clever layering and die-cutting for eye-catching focal points 

• Playing with colour to create both bold and subtle looks 

• Using versatile elements in unexpected ways for extra creativity

 

This commission was such a joy to work on, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to share my designs in one of the UK’s top craft magazines. If you’d like to see the cards up close, I’ve shared a full YouTube video where I walk you through each design, the techniques I used, and some extra tips for getting the most out of the Tile Collection. 

I’d love to know – which of the five cards is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below! 

 

Happy crafting,

Katarina

  Watch the video here! 

 

 

#FlowerCraftFest - Day - Slimline Card

 For Day 6 of the Flower Craft Festival, I created a vibrant slimline “Celebrate” card using digital papers and SVG flower files. A cheerful design, full of colour and dimension, perfect for any celebration! 

 

Welcome to Day 6 of the Flower Craft Festival! Today I’m sharing a slimline “Celebrate” card that combines bright digital papers with layered SVG flowers for a bold yet elegant look. The slimline format gives plenty of room for detail, while the digital elements make it easy to recreate at home. The flowers were cut from a digi SVG file, shaped for dimension, and finished with sparkling centres for that extra festive touch. Paired with a colourful background and intricate die-cut frame, this design works beautifully for birthdays, anniversaries, or any special moment worth celebrating.  

You can watch the full step-by-step tutorial on my YouTube channel here:

 

 
 

#FlowerCraftFest - Day 5 - Pop Up Card

 Brighten someone’s day with this cheerful Double Panel Pop-Up Gatefold Card featuring sunny sunflower papers from Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine. Complete with a matching belly band, this fun-fold card is perfect for birthdays and other special occasions. Watch the full step-by-step tutorial to see exactly how it’s made.

 For Day 5 of the #FlowerCraftFest, I’ve created a vibrant Double Panel Pop-Up Gatefold Card that’s sure to make the recipient smile! I’ve used the gorgeous sunflower paper collection from Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine, pairing bold floral patterns with gold accents for an elegant finish. The card features a clever pop-up mechanism hidden inside a gatefold design, giving it both surprise and dimension. A coordinating belly band keeps everything neatly closed and adds an extra decorative touch. This style works beautifully for birthdays, but it can easily be adapted for other occasions simply by switching up the papers and sentiment. You can follow along with my full video tutorial where I guide you through each step—covering everything from scoring and folding to layering and embellishing. It’s easier than it looks, and the results are stunning!

 

 

 

#FlowerCraftFest - Day 4 - Shaker card

 For Day 4 of the Flower Craft Festival, I’ve created an 8”x8” floral shaker card with a layered tag topper. The tag was made using a layered SVG file from my own SVG kit, filled with sparkles and topped with dimensional flowers.

 Day 4 of the Flower Craft Festival brought me the perfect excuse to play with layers, sparkle, and flowers — three of my absolute favourite things! I started with an 8”x8” card base, then built up a soft, dreamy background to set the scene. For the focal point, I couldn’t resist using a layered tag shaker from my own SVG kit. Once the shaker was filled with glittering sequins, it instantly became the heart of the design. From there, I added clusters of dimensional flowers in pretty shades, tucking in leaves and foliage to give it that lush, full look. The mix of textures, shine, and gentle colours makes this card feel so joyful — it’s one of those projects that’s just as much fun to make as it is to give.

If you’d like to see exactly how it all came together, you can watch my full step-by-step tutorial on YouTube

 

  

#FlowerCraftFest - Day 3 - Floral Box

 A charming floral gift box with a wraparound sleeve – perfect for adding a handmade touch to any special occasion.

This beautiful floral gift box is designed with a wraparound sleeve that adds both elegance and functionality. Ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, or just-because surprises, it’s a wonderful way to present small gifts or handmade treats. The floral design brings a fresh, cheerful feel, while the sleeve keeps everything secure and stylish. You don’t need advanced tools or techniques to make this – just a love for papercrafting and a few simple supplies. The result is a thoughtful, reusable box that will make any recipient feel extra special.

 

Want to make your own? Follow my step-by-step tutorial here:

 

 

#FFCchallenge2023 - FUN FOLD - Side coloumn pop up card with a floating effect

Learn how to make a stunning side column pop-up card with a floating effect in my latest tutorial! Featuring layered flowers, foliage, butterflies, and backgrounds from my brand new digital cardmaking kit. Perfect for adding a real “wow” moment to your handmade cards. 

 

 

 

  Today I’m sharing a side column pop-up card with a magical floating effect – a design that looks complex but is surprisingly fun to put together! Using elements from my brand new digital cardmaking kit, including layered flowers, lush foliage, delicate butterflies, and coordinating backgrounds, I’ll walk you through each step to create a card that’s sure to impress. In my YouTube tutorial, you’ll see exactly how to: 

 • Build the side column pop-up base 

 • Create the floating floral arrangement

 • Add depth and texture with SVG layers

 • Finish with a few sparkly details for that extra special touch

  Download the digital kit here: Bloom and Layer digital cardmaking kit

 Whether you’re crafting for a birthday, thank you, or just because, this project is a beautiful way to show off your creativity!

  Watch the full tutorial here: