Watercoloring - Right as Rain

Newton’s Nook | Cat and Sparklers Card

I couldn’t resist making another card with the Newton’s 4th of July stamp set from Newton’s Nook! This time, the star of the show is a cheerful cat holding sparklers in both paws—ready to celebrate in style. I watercolored the image pairing it with patterned papers to reinforce the theme. See my first card with this stamp set HERE.

- Cover an A2-size card base with patterned paper.
- Stamp the 4th of July stamp image on to watercolor paper. Color with medium of choice. Once dry, cut with coordinating die set. I used Gansai Tambi watercolors.
- Stamp the sentiment onto patterned paper and cut with an oval die. Cut another oval from a coordinating patterned paper and adhere sentiment piece. Add assembly to a scalloped oval mat cut from white cardstock. Add the assembly to the prepared base and adhere the watercolored image with foam adhesive.

As I mentioned in this post on card backgrounds, patterned paper offers a quick and convenient way to add character. I used papers from three different pads in my stash on this card.

Newton’s Nook | Celebrate the Fourth

Hello! I’m celebrating the 4th of July with a playful handmade card featuring a cat and dog riding in a wagon decked out in red, white, and blue! The adorable image, from Newton’s Nook, is perfect for patriotic crafting. I typically reach for watercolor markers, but this time I opted for my Kuretake Gansai Tambi pans for a fresh take. I decided I wanted to ~~torture myself~~ explore a different watercolor medium that I haven’t used in several years.

- Cover an A2-size card base with patterned paper.
- Stamp the 4th of July stamp image on to watercolor cardstock. Color with medium of choice. Cut with coordinating die set.
- Stamp the sentiment onto cardstock and cut with a rectangular die. Add the watercolored image with foam adhesive.
- Add embellishments to the panel (I used Taylored Expressions white epoxy stars from my stash) and add to card base.

Newton’s Nook | Cat with Bubble Tea

Hello! Today, I’m sharing a playful handmade card featuring a fun-loving cat sipping bubble tea—because it’s always a good time to par-tea! I used stamps from Newton’s Nook to create the adorable focal image, which I watercolored. To set the scene, I stenciled a pair of tropical palm trees on to patterned paper, adding a relaxed, summery vibe that perfectly complements the kitty’s party spirit.

- Stamp the Bubble Tea image on Cold Press watercolor paper, heat-set the image, and color with Zig markers.
- Once dry, cut the image with its coordinating die.
- Stencil the palms in black in with the Retro Sun and Palms stencil on to patterned paper (Simple Stories Just Beachy). Trim and add to a white A2-size card base.
- Using a different patterned paper in the same Simple Stories Just Beachy pad, cut a hill, and add to the prepared base.
- Stamp the Bubble Tea sentiment on to yellow cardstock and cut with a circle die.

Handmade Father’s Day Cards Round-Up

Father’s Day cards often celebrate the things dads love most—relaxing, tinkering, and spending time outdoors. In this roundup, I’m sharing handmade cards that reflect just that, with themes like fixing things, fishing, and BBQ. Whether you’re crafting for your own dad or another special guy, these ideas are full of inspiration. Throughout this post, I’ll be using cards from my blog archive as examples. Click on the card image to be taken to the original post.

First up, let’s celebrate the classic tool theme—a timeless favorite for Father’s Day. These cards highlight the hardworking, hands-on spirit of dads who love to build, fix, and tinker.

Next up is the fishing theme, perfect for dads who enjoy quiet moments by the water. From a clean and simple card with just a fishing rod, to a detailed die-cut design, to a charming watercolored scene featuring a dog with a net—these cards reel in all the personality.

The necktie has long been a classic symbol of Father’s Day, representing the traditional, buttoned-up dad with a hint of nostalgia and charm.

Finally, no Father’s Day roundup is complete without a nod to the grill master. This card features a BBQ scene and a bold “#1 Dad” sentiment—perfect for the king of the cookout.

As I looked over this collection, I noticed how varied Father’s Day cards can be—some are bold and graphic, others are sweet or funny. Some use large die-cut letters to spell out DAD, while others don’t say “Dad” at all, instead letting the imagery or sentiment do the talking. The designs range from clean and simple to scenes, showing that there’s no one right way to celebrate the dads in our lives. I hope these cards spark ideas and encourage you to dig into your own supplies to create a Father’s Day card that feels personal and meaningful.

Newton’s Nook | Purrfect Day

Hello! There’s nothing like a beach day to capture the spirit of summer—and that includes our furry friends! Today I’m sharing a sunny, beach-themed card created with the Happy Meowr stamp set from Newton’s Nook. I watercolored the cat and paired the image with a summer-patterned paper to complete the sunny vibe. This fun and easy design is purrfect for sending warm wishes—or just because.

- Cover an A2-size card base with patterned paper from the Simple Stories Just Beachy pad.
- Stamp the Happy Meowr image and watercolor. I used a combination of Zig Real Brush markers and watercolor pencils. Once dry, cut with the coordinating die.
- Color white cardstock with Tumbled Glass and Antique Linen Distress Inks. Stamp the sentiment with a stamp in the Seashell Roundabout set.
- Cut with a circle die in the Hero Arts Circle Infinity set. Cut a white cardstock circle with the next biggest die in the set. Adhere the two and add the assembly to the card base.
- Add the cat to the circle with foam adhesive.