Little Critter, Big Attitude

Hi Everyone, Dalis HERE!

There is something magical about rescuing a book that looks like it has been gently set aside by the world. Finding a Little Critter treasure by Mercer Mayer in the discard pile at the thrift store felt like destiny tapping me on the shoulder.

I honestly stood there wondering how on earth it ended up there. Into my cart it went, and yes, I absolutely whispered to it that it was about to be loved and given a brand-new chapter in its life. 

This is the second project I have made with it, and I have to say, upcycling a childhood classic has a special kind of sparkle. I paired those sweet, nostalgic images with a few Crackerbox Stamps sentiments to give Mom a slightly… upgraded way to express her feelings. Let’s just say it might be the version of motherhood that includes raised eyebrows and perfectly timed side eye. LOL!!!

There is something so fun about blending innocent storybook charm with a sentiment that has just a pinch of sass. It feels like giving Little Critter a grown-up sense of humor while still keeping that cozy heart intact.

I hope you like this second life project as much as I loved rescuing and reinventing it. Sometimes the best art starts in the discard pile.

Supply List:

FYI Saying

Additional Supplies: Mercer Mayer illustration, brown chalk ink, embossing ink, and white embossing powder.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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Kraft Cardstock Glow-Up

 Hi Everyone, Dalis Here!

Kraft cardstock can be a little sneaky. It drinks in color and sometimes leaves your pencils looking like they forgot their vitamins. But every crafty curveball has a workaround.

Years ago, I learned a tiny trick that feels almost like a primer for paper. Lay down a soft layer of white colored pencil first. Just a light base. Nothing heavy. Then add your colors on top. Suddenly, those shades pop like they packed a suitcase full of sunshine. 🌈

Look at how vibrant those colors turn out! And the best part? It takes very minimal coloring to get that brightness. No overworking, no muddy blends. Just smooth, controlled layers doing their thing.

I kept this card simple on purpose. Clean layout. Classic feel. Let the technique be the star. Sometimes kraft plus a whisper of white is all it takes to turn tricky into terrific

Supply List:

Shamrock Open

Crazy In Love

 Hug My Shamrock

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Color Pencils, kraft colored cardstock, and golden thread.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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Purple Reign of Sass

Hi Everyone. Dalis Here!

Prissy has officially had enough of the lovebirds and their parade of hearts and roses. If she’s going to step into Valentine’s season, she’s doing it with attitude intact. This sentiment feels exactly like something she would say, bold, unapologetic, and just the right amount of snark.

I kept this as a one-layer card, which makes her personality shine even more. No extra layers, no distractions. Just Prissy front and center, delivering her perfectly timed remark. Sometimes, simple really is stronger.

And this one is for my purple lovers out there. While the world leans into pink and red, Prissy chooses something richer and a little dramatic. Purple gives it that regal, confident energy that fits her so well.

A one-layer design, a splash of purple, and a whole lot of sass. Honestly, it feels very on brand for her. 

Supply List:

Miss Prissy

Love Pen

Life is Not A Fairytale

Candy Heart Big and Snarky Sayings

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Metallic Watercolors, white acrylic paint, purple cardstock for stamping and layering.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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Feelings? Absolutely Not.

 Hi everyone!  Dalis Here! 

You walked the line between anti and adorably unhinged and honestly… that’s a power move!

You’re right, it is cute, but it’s the kind of cute that’s slightly feral. The raining hearts set the trap. Sweet, romantic, very Valentine-coded. Then bam, Frog Being Crazy enters the scene, actively disrespecting a love letter with a full-body hissy-fit. That contrast is exactly what gives it anti-Valentine energy. It’s not “I hate love,” it’s “love showed up uninvited, and I reacted accordingly.”

Stepping on the letter is the key detail. That one choice flips the narrative from whimsical to rebellious. Without it, you’d have a quirky Valentine. With it, you have a tiny green manifesto against forced romance. The masking and stencil work disappearing into the background is actually a compliment to your design, because the story reads instantly, even though there’s a lot going on under the hood.

So did I succeed? Yes.
Is it still usable as a Valentine’s card? Also yes.
That’s the sweet spot.

It feels like an Anti-Valentine for people who still like hearts but refuse to behave about them. And honestly, that’s a whole demographic.

Supply List:

Candy Hearts Med. Words set of 4

Candy Heart Big and Snarky Sayings

Frog being Crazy

Letter with Rose

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Clear ink and embossing powder, glitter paste, 3D paste, stencils, stapler, metal embellishments, bling, and ribbon.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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Sssomeone’s Feeling the Love

 Hi Everyone, Dalis here! 

Puns make my heart skip a beat, and when you add a snake into the Valentine’s Day mix? That’s a done deal. This card started with the pun because, honestly, when a sentiment is this good, the rest of the design just has to keep up. It’s no surprise this image and sentiment come as a bundle. They were clearly meant to live their best pun-filled life together.

I’ll admit, I was not in the mood to color for this one. Instead, I leaned fully into mixed media and let the background do the talking. Layers of texture, ink, and a little controlled chaos created the perfect surface to stamp the snake image directly on top. The result feels bold and a bit edgy, which pairs beautifully with the humor. Sometimes skipping coloring opens the door to a completely different kind of creativity, and I loved letting the background take center stage here.

This card is playful, punny, and just the right amount of unconventional for Valentine’s Day. It’s proof that love cards don’t always need hearts and flowers. Sometimes all you need is a clever pun, a sassy snake, and a mixed media background that says, “Yes, I meant to do that.”

Because really… if you can make someone laugh on Valentine’s Day, you’ve already won.

Supply List:

Snake Hug & Main Squeeze Set of 2

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Embossing Ink, gold embossing powder, bling, ribbon, and thread.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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Emotionally Unhinged, Artistically Sound

Hello Everyone, Dalis here today.

I’m grinning over here already, so that tells you something. The humor lands exactly where you aimed it: delightfully off-kilter, not just cute-for-cute’s-sake.

The choice to dodge the expected “MAD about you!” and lean into weird feelings all around was the right call. It gives the focal stamp room to be unapologetically itself, like it’s leaning back in a chair saying, “Yeah, I’m strange. Sit with that.”

That ornamental die cut is doing some serious heavy lifting too. It grounds the image visually, but the “behind bars” vibe adds an extra layer of narrative. It feels intentional, like the character is contained but still very much in charge of the scene. Almost a playful tension between structure and chaos, which fits the humor perfectly.

Overall, it reads as confident and clever, not random. The weird is curated. 🖤
If this card were a person, it would make eye contact while telling the joke.

Supply List:

Weird Stalker

Crazy In Love

** BUNDLE DEAL ** Mad About You & Crazy In Love

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Embossing folder, inks, stapler, metal embellishments, ornamental dies, and thread.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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When Love Gets Its Fangs

Hi everyone, Dalis here!

BITE ME! Why not? This kid Dracula was practically begging to star alongside this conversation heart from Candy Heart Big and Snarky Sayings. It was fate. Or maybe just good snark.

I knew I wanted classic Valentine reds and pinks, but I also craved a jolt of something unexpected. Enter bright blue. Not shy blue. Not polite blue. BRIGHT blue. The kind that crashes the party and steals the cape. As bold and unapologetic as Dracula himself.

Texture was non-negotiable. Layers you can feel with your eyes, a little messy in the best way, because Valentine cards should have personality, not just polish.

Sweet, snarky, and slightly bitey. I hope you guys like it.

Supply List:

Kid Dracula

Candy Heart Big and Snarky Sayings

Candy Hearts Med. Words set of 4

Lips Small

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Clear ink and embossing powder, glitter paste, 3D paste, stencils, stapler, metal embellishments, bling, and ribbon.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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Sophistication with a Side of Snark

  Hi Everyone, Dalis here!

That sentiment has quiet mic-drop energy written all over it. 🍸

It’s the kind of line that doesn’t shout for attention; it just leans back, crosses its legs, and lets the truth sparkle.

Pairing it with the Martini Lady is pure genius. She carries that polished sass so effortlessly, like she’s been under-credited her entire life and is absolutely fine with you finally catching up. Sophisticated, slightly snarky, and perfectly unbothered.

And that ink-smooshed background… that’s patience doing yoga. All those layered whispers of color give the card breathing room so the sentiment can land exactly where it should. Nothing rushed, nothing forced, just letting the ink do its slow dance until it felt right.

This card doesn’t ask for applause.
It deserves it.

Supply List:

Unmedicated

Martini Lady

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies:Clear ink and embossing powder, bling, blue dye base, and purple base.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

 

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Eggstra Fabulous at Any Age

Hi everyone, Dalis here.

What comes first, the patterned paper or the stamps? A crafty riddle for the ages, right up there with the chicken and the egg. 

In this case, the patterned paper definitely came first. This vintage 2006 Autumn Leaves paper immediately sparked a vision in my mind of a funky, slightly sassy hen who simply had to come out and play. And here she is in all her glory. Meet Louise.

Now, at the Crackerbox Stamps store, she goes by the very proper name of “Chicken Standing.” But let’s be honest, Louise is doing far more than standing. She is absolutely passing judgment on everyone she encounters, including her companion stamp, “Cracked Egg.” Side-eye included.

Of course, I couldn’t resist a good pun, so “Eggstra!” had to make an appearance. To lean into the mixed media vibe, I added bits of thread, those cozy little tangles you’d expect to find tucked into a bird’s nest. Texture, personality, and a hen with opinions… this card has it all. 🧵✨

Sometimes the paper leads the dance, and the stamps happily follow. And when they do, magic (and attitude) happens.

Supply List:

Chicken Standing

Cracked Egg
Eggstra

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: alcohol markers, vellum, punch, white gel pen, Pearluster embossing powder, thread, and silver bling.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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When Eggs Go to a Birthday Party

Hi Everyone, Dalis here.

Bernice is celebrating her birthday, and she’s one happy gal, floating on a cloud of balloons in all her favorite colors! Look closely, and you’ll spot a crafty twist: those balloons were created using the Egg stamps from Crackerbox Stamps, dressed up and ready to party. This farm-themed birthday card is full of charm, personality, and clever stamp magic, proving that a good stamp loves a fun costume change.

Supply List:

Cow 2 Bernice

Egg Solid and Outline 

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Black Outline pen, and golden bling.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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Tipsy Tidings from the North Pole

Hi Everyone, Dalis here.

Some stamp sets steal a giggle, others steal the whole show… and this one might just be my forever favorite. It’s naughty, fun, and perfectly unhinged in the most festive way. The Let’s Get Blitzen sentiment pairs like a dream with the Santa and Reindeer Dancing stamp from Crackerbox Stamps, creating a scene that feels lifted straight from the North Pole’s after-hours holiday party.

This card leans fully into the holiday spirit — both the twinkly kind and the kind poured into questionable eggnog. The colors are classic, bright, merry, and loud enough that even Rudolph would squint approvingly. It’s one of those makes that practically winks at you from the craft table.

If you’re itching to craft something funny for your family, friends, or that one person who absolutely appreciates a tipsy reindeer, this set will keep the joy flowing season after season. Here’s to cards that toast, twirl, and tiptoe on the naughty list. Cheers! 

Supply List:

Santa and Reindeer Dancing

Get Blitzen 

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Snowflake brads, bling, pattern paper, and dies

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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An Evening of Elegant Light

Hi Everyone, Dalis here.

We’re leaning into the soft-glow side of the season with the Candles 3 Lit stamp from Crackerbox Stamps, and goodness does it deliver a quiet kind of magic. The colors drift away from the usual holiday palette and settle instead into something gentle and refined, like a whispered toast in a dim room.

The thread accents and tiny embellishments weave in just enough texture to make the design linger in the mind long after you set the card down. Nothing loud, nothing hurried, just a graceful trio of candles carrying their own hush of warmth.

A little glow, a little shimmer, and a whole lot of elegance. This one feels like a deep breath wrapped in cardstock. 

Supply List:

Candles 3 Lit

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: pattern papers, bling, dies, and thread.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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Patterned Paper Gingerbread Parade

    Hi Everyone, Dalis here.

The cookie crew is reporting for duty, freshly stamped, colored, and dressed to impress. These little gingerbread-shaped charmers from Crackerbox Stamps practically pirouette off the patterned paper, soaking up its toasty tones to look more gingerbread than sugar-sweet. A bit of decorating here, a flourish there, and suddenly the plate feels alive with holiday cheer and cookie swagger. Santa might need to pace himself, because these cuties are almost too adorable to dunk. 

Supply List:

Cookie Frosted Christmas Set of 3

Cookies 

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Silver paper, white gel pen, embossing ink, and embossing powder. 

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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Cheers from the Snarky Pond

Hi Everyone, Dalis here!

Snarky Frogs TAKE 2! Honestly, the moment the Sign Post Snarky Sentiments hit the desk, a Merry Kissmyass greeting was inevitable—CHEERS! The tiny bling-as-bubbles detail adds the cutest sparkle to this mixed media card. The background is a gelli print, and I recolored the poinsettia to coordinate perfectly with our froggie friend.

Supply List:

Frog Set 1

Sign Post Words Snarky set of 3 

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Gelly Prints, Punches, Golden splatter paint.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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Sipping Season Sparkle: Let’s Get Lit!

     Hi Everyone, Dalis here.

'Tis the hour for a drinkity-drink, and this card steps right up to clink glasses. It keeps its stance simple, like a well-poured cocktail, then leans in with just a few spicy embellishments that feel like decorative bubbles rising to the surface. A wink of sparkle here, a playful detail there, and suddenly the whole thing hums with that holiday-evening buzz where lights glow warmer, and spirits grow braver. Consider it a tiny paper toast to getting lit in all the best ways.

Supply List:

Glass and Get Lit

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Shaped dies, bling, pattern paper.

How to recreate this card: 

1. Stamp Glass with Memento Black ink and color using your favorite medium. I colored mine with alcohol markers. 
2. Add highlights with a white gel pen if desired.
3. To create the shadow of the lights, just offset the shadow a bit and follow the same all along the glass. Blend the warm grey color with a blender pen.
4. Add a line of light blue marker close to the line around the glass, but not touching the line.
5. Fussy cut the image.
6. Cut a die cut from silver paper and doodle around it.
7. Stamp the sentiment from Glass and Get Lit, and cut with die and draw a stitched line around it.
8. Trim a piece of paper with the 25 and mat on white cardstock.
9. I did follow a sketch from Kendra's Card Challenge for the background layers.
10. Add twine/thread and bling.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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Little Touches, Big Holiday Wow

Hi Everyone, Dalis here.

Don’t let these frogs fool you—they’re having a full-on partay! No need to behave, just make sure you don’t get your tinsel in a tangle. I absolutely love these little troublemakers! You’ll find several frogs in the shop, but this one is from the cool Frog Set 1 by Crackerbox Stamps. It’s one of our many fabulous (and slightly naughty) clear sets!

Today, I wanted to share how you can stamp directly onto book pages to achieve that mixed media feel without all the work. The natural text and worn paper add depth and texture instantly! It’s amazing how the smallest details can stand out the most. That little dangle flowing from the background to the sentiment? Chef’s kiss—perfectly aligned.

Supply List:

Frog Set 1

Ornament Poinsettia Dangle

Sign Post Words Snarky set of 3 

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Gelly Prints, Punches, Golden splatter paint.

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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Mixed Media Mayhem—courtesy of the NEON Elf in charge… me!

He Everyone, Dalis here today.

Welcome to one very bright card packed with fun details! Are you into mixed media? Because this one has it all—gel printing, heat embossing, splattering, decoupage, tearing, and rub-ons. If there was ever a mixed media party on a card… this is it.

Supply List:

Reindeer

Snowflakes Sm. and Med. Set of 2

Ornament Poinsettia Dangle

Sign Post Words Snarky set of 3 

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Additional Supplies: Gelly Prints, Punches, Golden embossing powder

Until next time— Stay colorful, stay crafty! -- Dalis

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