Penny Black - Right as Rain

Circle Frame | Penny Black Petals

Hello! After enjoying my first card with Penny Black’s new Petals stamp set from the A Lovely Smile release, I wanted to play with another image from the collection. I experimented with a different frame design, this time creating a circle window to highlight the image. A sweet tag sentiment and a few thoughtful details completed the card while keeping the focus on the watercoloring.

You can see my first card with the Petals set HERE.

- To begin, stamp the Petals image onto watercolor paper and color it with the medium of your choice. Once dry, cut with the coordinating die.
- Stamp the Happy Snippets sentiment and cut with a tag die (I used one from My Favorite Things).
- Cut white cardstock (Bazzill Marshmallow) with the square die measuring 4-1/2″ square in the Penny Black 51-422 Stitched Square & Circles die set.
- Use a circle die in the 51-551 Stitched Circles set to cut a circle from the square.
- Stamp Script (similar cling stamp) onto blue cardstock (Spellbinders Malibu) with blue ink for a tone-on-tone background. Trim to fit behind the frame. Cut a sheet of vellum to put in front of the script background.
- Use a circle in the 51-422 Stitched Square & Circles die set to cut an inner mat from the same blue cardstock for the assembly.
- Assemble the frame and background pieces and attach to a card base.
- Add the focal image and sentiment with foam adhesive.

Early in my cardmaking journey, I would often devour an entire stamp set, inking up every image and finding a way to use each one. It’s fun to return to that feeling again with Penny Black’s Petals stamp set and let each image inspire a different card design.

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Watercolored Penny Black Petals Card

Hello! As I ease back into watercoloring, I treated myself to Penny Black’s new Petals clear stamp set from the A Lovely Smile release. The charming girl image was just the inspiration I needed, and it gave me the perfect excuse to revisit a framed card design, something I haven’t created in quite a while. I love using frames because they create a window that showcases the focal image. Without the frame, the sweet image might get lost, while the framed design naturally draws the eye and provides an elegant place for the sentiment. An ink-blended, dry-embossed background shows through the oval opening, while die-cut butterflies complete the scene. It felt good to combine some favorite techniques with one of Penny Black’s newest releases.

- To begin, stamp the Petals image onto watercolor paper and color it with the medium of your choice. Once dry, cut with the coordinating die.
- Stamp the now-retired Friendship Flowers sentiment [#30-223] in black ink onto white cardstock. Cut to A2-size with a stitched rectangle die. Cut an oval from the center (I used a now-retired one from Spellbinders).
- Ink a panel with Tumbled Glass and Mowed Lawn Oxide inks. Dry-emboss with the Penny Black Encircle folder. Attach to the back of the frame. Add assembly to a card base.
- Cut butterflies (now-retired Flight of Fancy set) from watercolor paper that has been colored with the same pink as the shirt on the Petals image.
- Add the girl and butterflies to the card with foam adhesive.

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Playing with Penny Black Products

Hello! Lately, I’ve been easing my way back into the craft room. For the past several years, much of my creative time was shaped by design commitments, and now that those have come to an end, I have the opportunity to slow down and play.

As I’ve been watching Jill Foster’s Penny Black videos, one idea has especially stayed with me: limit your choices so you can enjoy the creative process instead of feeling overwhelmed by all the possibilities. That simple shift in mindset has been exactly what I needed. Rather than trying to use every technique or create the “perfect” card, I’m choosing a handful of products and seeing where they lead.

This card combines a Penny Black cling stamp, an embossing folder, stamped images with coordinating dies, and a frame die. The watering can and hydrangea images also gave me another opportunity to practice watercoloring. I wouldn’t say I’ve completely found my creative rhythm again, but I can feel it returning.

- Dry-emboss a tan A2-size card panel with the Penny Black Texture folder. Add to a card base.
- Stamp Hydrangeas image onto watercolor paper and color it with your favorite medium. Stamp the watering can image onto watercolor paper and color it with your favorite medium. Once dry, cut the items with the coordinating dies Hydrangeas cut out and watering can cut out.
- Stamp the Happy Snippets sentiment and cut with a tag die (I used one from My Favorite Things). Add a small jewel/gem to the tag.
- Use the largest Classy Frames die to cut a frame.
- Stamp Script (similar cling stamp) onto purple paper with purple ink for a tone-on-tone background. Trim to fit inside the frame.
- Attach the purple panel to the back of the frame and add the assembly to the card base. Add the watering can and floral to the card with foam adhesive. Add the tag to the can.

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Penny Black | Watercolored Hydrangea

Hello! Today, I’m sharing a handmade card featuring a watercolored hydrangea bloom in a vintage-style watering can—created with stamps from Penny Black. I stamped the sentiment on vellum and cut it with a circle die sot that the words would not get lost over the background. It’s a simple, yet heartfelt, design that feels timeless.

- Cover an A2-size card base with patterned paper.
- Stamp Hydrangeas and Sprinkles images on watercolor paper and color with media of choice. I used Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors. Once dry, cut the watercolored items with the coordinating die sets. I added white enamel accents to the floral centers.
- Stamp the Sprinkles sentiment on vellum and cut with a circle die. Adhere the circle and floral assembly to the prepared card base.

Purr-fect Handmade Cat Cards

Hello! Cats have a timeless charm that makes them the purr-fect subject for handmade cards. Whether playful or cozy, feline friends bring personality and warmth to your designs. These cards make wonderful choices for occasions like birthdays, Halloween, thank-yous, or just-because moments. Join me as I share a roundup of cat-themed creations from my blog archive. Click on the card image to be taken to the original post for additional details.

These two birthday cards feature stamped and watercolored cats, complemented by die-cut elements for a fun and whimsical celebration.

This larger birthday card showcases a die-cut cat wearing sunglasses with a “Happy Birthday” message, making it the perfect statement piece for any cat lover.

This “just because” card features a delightful small watercolored scene of cats, created with the Art Impressions Matchbox series.

These Halloween cards feature cats in their spooky best—one with die-cut elements to create a playful cat and pumpkin scene, and the other showcasing a watercolored cat ready for the season.

These two stamped and watercolored cat cards feature playful scenes, both created using Newton’s Nook stamps, known for their charming cat imagery. One captures a relaxed beach scene, while the other sets the stage in a cozy library.

There’s something irresistibly charming about cats on cards. They bring a playful and timeless appeal to any design! I hope this roundup has inspired you to use cats as a theme in your own creations. While putting this roundup together, I realized that many of my cat cards feature stamped images that I’ve colored. I own several silhouette cat dies and have used them on a number of cards (although none are included in this roundup). While silhouettes create a bold and classic design, most cats aren’t a solid color, so stamping and coloring allow for more variety and detail. Do you have favorite cat stamps or dies? Is there a cat-themed set on your wish list?