Plus a Fun Fold Surprise
There are moments in crafting when a layout is just so good… you can’t stop creating with it—and that’s exactly what happened for this week’s Paper Party Live! Not only are we welcoming spring with the beautiful Help Me Grow Bundle, but I also had the incredible honor of being invited as a Guest Designer for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge #290. What a joy it was to tie both of these together!
The star of today’s projects is one fabulous layout… used two completely different ways. I absolutely love showing how a single design can stretch your creativity, and these two cards are the perfect example.
The first card, which we create together during Paper Party Live, is soft, fresh, and full of springtime charm. It begins with a Pool Party base and a beautifully embossed Basic White panel using the Eyelet 3D Embossing Folder using a fun technique to bring the texture to life while still allowing some of that white to peek through. It’s such an easy technique, but it completely transforms the look of the cardstock.
With a strip of Country Woods Designer Series Paper, a Crumb Cake circle, layered foliage, and that sweet little trowel detail, everything comes together in a way that feels light, cheerful, and full of growth.
Now here’s where it gets really fun. Card number two—my Guest Designer card for the TicTacToe Challenge—is the exact same layout… but it looks completely different. For the challenge, I chose the right-hand column going down—Floral/Foliage, Stencil, and Border—and built my design around those elements. This version leans into Smoky Slate and Night of Navy tones and swaps the embossing technique for a stenciled background that gives the feel of patio stones. Adding the scalloped border and a few extra layers changes the entire vibe, even though the bones of the card are identical.
It’s such a great reminder that you don’t need a brand-new design every time you sit down to craft. Sometimes, all it takes is a new color palette, a different technique, or a few extra details to create something entirely unique.
And because I couldn’t stop there… I added a bonus card that is a fun fold! This one brings in additional layers, a sweet little heart accent, and a dimensional planter filled with greenery. The fold adds an interactive element we all love and makes this card feel extra special when opened.
If you received one of my Make & Take kits, that was for the first card we’re creating together during the Live. These were sent to my team members and customers who placed a qualifying order last month as a little thank you for your support. I truly appreciate you!
The PDF tutorial for all of these projects will be sent directly to my team members and qualifying customers as well. If you’d like to recreate these cards at your own pace, the tutorial is also available in my online store for a very small price.
And now for the fun part…
In today’s Paper Party Live, I walk you through the featured card step-by-step, share tips for that beautiful embossing technique, and show you just how easily this one layout can be transformed into a completely different design. You’ll also get a closer look at the bonus fun fold so you can see all those gorgeous details up close.
Whether you’re crafting along with me or catching the replay later, I’m so glad you’re here. Please join in the fun and play along with the Tic Tac Toe Challenge:
This week is all about stretching your supplies, embracing the season, and seeing just how far one great layout can take you.
