Category Archives: Crafts

Daily Happy Planner Layout for August 2022

Daily Happy Planner Layout for August 1, 2022

Daily Happy Planner Layout for August 1, 2022

Hi Everyone! Here we have another daily planner layout that I created for August 1, 2022. I’m entering this project in the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Wednesday Challenge.

More About This Craft Project:

I really like weekly planner layouts, but they don’t always work perfectly for me — because most weeks, the standard weekly layouts just don’t provide enough space for all the things I want to keep track of. So lately I have been adding at least 2-3 daily layouts in between my weekly layout pages when needed.

To make the page you see pictured, I started with a page from one of the Happy Planner block pads. In general, I really like this page layout, but some of the things on it are not that useful to me — so I cover them up with stuff that I’ll actually use (or at least stuff that I’ll enjoy looking at).

For example, the standard page layout from this block pad has an hour-by-hour format. I covered that up with a strip of Graphic 45 patterned paper — LOVE how that turned out. I adore the color of the paper; it is soooo pretty, and somehow it manages to be an exact match for the block pad pages.

Another thing I covered up is a section for items to buy. I’m not doing a lot of shopping right now, so I covered that section up with some bits to help me track my wellness to-dos for the day.

The date stamp is by Heidi Swapp. The “To Do” and “Wellness” subheadings are spelled out using a Lawn Fawn alphabet stamped set. I also used some elements from the Lawn Fawn “Plan on It” stamp set. The scalloped edges are all fussy cut using various scalloped scissors.

Overall, I LOVE this layout, and I really enjoyed using it! I liked it so much that I will probably make another one like it soon. Since I have somewhere around 80+ pages left in my block pad, I will most likely reuse this style layout again, perhaps decorating it with different papers, stamps and other embellishments.

Daily Planner Layout Featuring a Goals List and Habit Tracker

Daily Planner Layout Featuring Goals List and Habit Tracker; Stamps by Lawn Fawn and Simon Says Stamp

Daily Planner Layout Featuring Goals List and Habit Tracker; Stamps by Lawn Fawn and Simon Says Stamp

Hello friends!


I’ve been busy creating new paper crafts projects. Today I’m posting a new daily planner layout featuring a goals list, habit tracker and bunches of other elements that will help to facilitate planning. I’m entering this project in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge with the theme of “Anything Goes”. This week Simon Says Stamp is featuring their own branded products; I happen to have a set of their stamps, and I love it!


The set I have is called “Hand Crafted With Love”. If you look carefully on my planner layout, you can see a couple of cute stamped images from this set. One is the adorable little pair of scissors, and the other is the stamped ball of yarn with the crochet hook.

List of Craft Supplies Needed for Creating This Daily Planner Layout Featuring Rainbows, Butterflies and Flowers

Thanks so much for checking out my project! I sincerely appreciate your interest.

Posted By: Amy Solovay

This page was last updated on 8-2-2022.

Bold Black and White Greeting Card With Warm Glow Accents Featuring Supplies by Gina K Designs

Bold Black and White Greeting Card With Warm Glow Accents Featuring Supplies by Gina K Designs -- This Greeting Card Features a Bold Heart Design and Stamped Floral Images by Gina K Designs

Bold Black and White Greeting Card With Warm Glow Accents Featuring Supplies by Gina K Designs — This Greeting Card Features a Bold Heart Design and Stamped Floral Images by Gina K Designs

In my last couple of blog posts, I shared two different cards that I’m entering in a couple of online challenges. First of all, I’m entering them in the Monthly Mix Challenge over at the Gina K Designs website, and second, I’m entering them in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge with the theme of “Anything Goes”. Here’s another card from the same series that I am entering in the same challenges.

At the Gina K Designs website, participants were challenged to

” make a Black and White card with a POP of color! The majority of your card must be black and white and you can choose any color you want for your POP, but it must be one color. For those of you who prefer numbers, keep the color at no more than 25% of your total card. I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!”

For this card, I used the same Fancy Floral stamps that I used in my first challenge entry. For my “pop” color, I decided to try using “Warm Glow”, which is one of the many colors in Gina K’s color palette. “Warm Glow” is a gorgeous color that’s not quite brown, not quite beige, and not quite coral. My photos do not accurately represent this color, which I think is a bit darker and brown-er than depicted.

I fussy-cut all the scalloped designs you see pictured. The larger, bolder scalloped scissors are by E.K. Success. The smaller scalloped design I used to cut out the flowers were made with Fiskars Mini Scallop Paper Edgers.

I LOVE how this black and white greeting card with warm glow accents turned out — and the best part is that this is a design I never, in a zillion years, would have come up with on my own without this challenge. This took me out of my creative comfort zone in a good way.

You can see my other challenge entries featuring the same stamps on the following pages:

Thanks so much for dropping by my blog today; I really appreciate your presence here. My heartfelt thanks to the team at Gina K Designs for hosting this fun and thought-provoking challenge, and also for making such fantastic stamps and paper crafting supplies available.

Posted By: Amy Solovay


This page was last updated on 8-2-2022.

Card Making Idea: “Warmest Wishes” Floral Card Featuring Stamps by Gina K Designs

Black, White and Pink Warmest Wishes Greeting Card Featuring Stamps by Gina K Designs

Black, White and Pink Warmest Wishes Greeting Card Featuring Stamps by Gina K Designs

In my last post, I shared a red, black and white greeting card that was inspired by the Monthly Mix Challenge over at the Gina K Designs website, I’m also entering my projects in the “Anything Goes” Wednesday Challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp blog. Here’s another card from the same series that I am entering in these same challenges.

At the Gina K Designs site, participants were challenged to

” make a Black and White card with a POP of color! The majority of your card must be black and white and you can choose any color you want for your POP, but it must be one color. For those of you who prefer numbers, keep the color at no more than 25% of your total card. I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!”

For this card, I used the same Fancy Floral stamps and Cherry Arte paper that I used in my first challenge entry. However, I changed them up quite a bit by using a different card size and by using pink instead of red for my pop color.


Another differentiator is the pink and white polka dotted washi tape I included on this card; Studio Calico is the manufacturer. The pink fabric flowers are by Petaloo.


Want to see a couple of other similar cards I’m entering in the same challenge? I invite you to check out the pages linked below:

Thanks so much for dropping by my blog today; I really appreciate your presence here. My heartfelt thanks to the team at Gina K Designs for hosting this fun and thought-provoking challenge, and also for making such fantastic stamps and paper crafting supplies available.

Posted By: Amy Solovay


This page was last updated on 8-2-2022.

Card Making Idea: “Warmest Wishes” Slimline Card Featuring Stamps by Gina K Designs

Floral Greeting Card Featuring Stamped Images by Gina K Designs

Floral Greeting Card Featuring Stamped Images by Gina K Designs

Hi everyone! What’s new?

I have been busy making sooooo many craft projects that it is hard to know where to start with sharing them all. I’m starting with this pretty black, white and red floral greeting card making idea because it this project is one of the few things I’ve made that has a deadline attached. It was inspired by the Monthly Mix Challenge over at the Gina K Designs website, and that challenge ends today ended a couple of days ago. I am updating this post today because I decided to also enter this project in the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Wednesday Challenge.

At the Gina K Designs website, participants were challenged to

” make a Black and White card with a POP of color! The majority of your card must be black and white and you can choose any color you want for your POP, but it must be one color. For those of you who prefer numbers, keep the color at no more than 25% of your total card. I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!”

People, this was a TOUGH challenge!


When I used to work in the textile industry, I did frequently have to design fabrics featuring a limited color palette. So this idea of using a limited color palette is not totally foreign to me. However, using a limited color palette isn’t normally something I do when I’m making handmade cards. So I definitely found this to be a challenging challenge! Which, I guess, is the whole point. I participate in challenges because I enjoy being forced out of my comfort zone creatively.

I actually made a bunch of different projects for this challenge using different colors as the “pop” color. Out of all of them, the one you see pictured above is my favorite. I used red as the “pop” color, and I LOVE how it turned out!


Floral Greeting Card Featuring Stamped Images by Gina K Designs

Floral Greeting Card Featuring Stamped Images by Gina K Designs


It’s a slimline card featuring floral images that I made using the Fancy Florals Mini Stamp Set by Gina K Designs. I layered the stamped images with some other elements including a three-dimensional fabric flower by Petaloo, a scalloped heart design, and a paper lace border design. I fussy-cut those scalloped elements using scalloped scissors by E.K. Success.

While I was struggling with what to make my “pop” color, I looked back in my folder of older card designs and I came across a card I made that was published in the Stamper’s Sampler magazine many years ago. I still love it all these years later.

Black White and Red Handmade Greeting Card Featuring Hearts and Paper Lace

Black White and Red Handmade Greeting Card Featuring Hearts and Paper Lace


And when I saw it, I remembered how much I LOVE black, white and red color combinations. So I knew red had to be the first “pop” color I tried using for this new challenge.


The stamps I used to make that old card are by a long-defunct stamp manufacturer called Inque Boutique. That floral stamp used to be my most-frequently used stamp EVER, until I wore it out and couldn’t replace it. I was so bummed about that.


But now I am so, so, so SO HAPPY, because Gina K’s Fancy Floral stamps are even better than the Inque Boutique florals that I used to own and use so often. I TOTALLY LOVE THEM! And they are now becoming some of my most-frequently-used stamps for card making and other paper crafts, because, as you can see, they are extremely versatile.


Gina K Designs actually makes some gorgeous black and white patterned paper that I would love to have used in this project, except for 2 problems: 1 — I don’t happen to have any of that particular patterned paper in my stash at the moment, and 2 — Even if I did, the 6″x6″ papers aren’t quite long enough for making this particular slimline card. To make this particular card design, I had to cut a piece of paper measuring 8 1/4″ x 3 1/4″; the solid black-colored cardstock layered underneath measures 8 1/2″ x 3 1/2″. But I would really love to try making a similar, smaller card using Gina K’s elegant black and white papers and these same stamps.


As it turns out, the only black and white papers I have stashed at the moment are ancient ones dating back to 2006ish through 2009ish. The one I used in this project was made by a now-defunct company called Cherry Arte. The brads I used as flower centers are also from that same time period; they were made by Queen & Company. I just checked to see if they still make these, and I couldn’t find them, which I suppose isn’t exactly shocking.


So one of the next projects I’m planning is to try remaking this general card design using papers and other supplies that are actually still available — and probably also using green for the leaves and a riot of colors for the rest of the project. In the meanwhile, the Fancy Floral stamps I used for this are in stock and available at the Gina K Designs website. I highly recommend these if you are in need of a versatile set of floral stamps that could be used for creating cards, scrapbooking layouts, planner layouts, collages, art journals and basically any other type of art or paper crafts project you could imagine.


Want to check out my other entries in this challenge? They’re linked below; If you’re in need of more DIY card making ideas, I invite you to take a look.

Thanks so much for dropping by my blog today; I really appreciate your presence here. Please stay tuned for more posts featuring my other entries from this fun and challenging challenge. My heartfelt thanks to the team at Gina K Designs for hosting this fun and thought-provoking challenge, and also for making such fantastic stamps and paper crafting supplies available.

Posted By: Amy Solovay


This page was last updated on 8-2-2022.

Daily Planner Layout Featuring Rainbows, Butterflies and Flowers

Daily Planner Layout Featuring Rainbows, Butterflies and Flowers

Daily Planner Layout Featuring Rainbows, Butterflies and Flowers


Yesterday I posted pics of a floral greeting card I made for Pinkfresh Studio’s July challenge. The challenge is to incorporate sparkles, glitter, metallics or other sorts of shimmer and shine into any paper craft project.


Pictured here, you can see the second project I made to enter in this challenge. It’s a daily planner layout featuring rainbows, butterflies and flowers.


Close-Up Picture of the Stamped Image on the Upper Right-Hand Side of the Daily Planner Layout. This Stamp Is From the Take Pride Stamp Set by Pinkfresh Studio.

Close-Up Picture of the Stamped Image on the Upper Right-Hand Side of the Daily Planner Layout. This Stamp Is From the Take Pride Stamp Set by Pinkfresh Studio.


I LOVE how colorful, sparkly and eye-catching this turned out — although it doesn’t look quite as pretty in the pics because the sparkles don’t show up very well in the photos.

List of Craft Supplies Needed for Creating This Daily Planner Layout Featuring Rainbows, Butterflies and Flowers

Thanks so much for viewing my project! I sincerely appreciate your interest.

More Craft Projects Featuring Supplies by Pinkfresh Studio

More Paper Craft Project Ideas

Posted By: Amy Solovay

This page was last updated on 8-2-2022.

Card Making Idea: DIY Floral Greeting Card Featuring Supplies by Pinkfresh Studio

DIY Floral Greeting Card Featuring Papers and Stamped Images by Pinkfresh Studio

DIY Floral Greeting Card Featuring Papers and Stamped Images by Pinkfresh Studio


The lovely folks over at the Pinkfresh Studio blog are hosting a challenge with the theme of “Shimmer & Shine!” The challenge is to incorporate sparkles, glitter, metallics or other sorts of shimmer and shine into any paper craft project.


Pictured here, you can see one of my entries for this challenge. It’s a floral greeting card featuring a stamped focal image by Pinkfresh Studio. The floral accent stamp and papers are also by Pinkfresh Studio.


Floral Greeting Card Featuring Papers and Stamped Images by Pinkfresh Studio

Floral Greeting Card Featuring Papers and Stamped Images by Pinkfresh Studio


Strangely enough, even though I own approximately one zillion different paper craft supplies made by Pinkfresh Studio, I somehow do not have any sparkly Pinkfresh Studio supplies. How is it even possible that I own NOTHING they’ve manufactured that includes gold foil, glitter or sparkles?


Weird. Weird, but unfortunately true.


So, I added a bit of glittery, sparkly washi tape by Graphic 45 to my project. This is my all-time favorite washi tape, and I think of it as being a must-have craft supply.


I also used a purple metallic Sakura Gelly Roll pen to add even more shimmer. Sadly, the metallic shimmer didn’t photograph well when I took pictures of this card. If you look really closely at the scalloped edge around the stamped image that says “I am so proud of you”, you can kinda see it. A little. Sort of? Or maybe not?


But you can definitely see it if you actually hold this card in your hands and look at it — and the shimmery metallic purple color is gorgeous!

Other Supplies Needed to Create This DIY Floral Greeting Card:

So there you have it: A Card Making Idea for creating a DIY Floral Greeting Card that includes Supplies by Pinkfresh Studio and a few other manufacturers. I made a couple of other projects to enter in this challenge besides just these, so please stay tuned for more projects to be posted soon.


Thanks so much for dropping by!


Posted by: Amy Solovay


This page was last updated on 8-1-2022.

Scalloped Hand Stamped Paper Flowers With Flourishes:

Pink and Purple Flower Embellishments With Buttons, Brads, Crystals and Flourishes

Pink and Purple Flower Embellishments With Buttons, Brads, Crystals and Flourishes

I made these fancy hand stamped paper flower embellishments to use on scrapbook pages, mini albums, and cards. They can be used the same way that you’d use Prima flowers, but the hand stamped version doesn’t cost as much. I wrote up a tutorial with instructions for how to make these pretty layered flowers; You can click here to see the instructions for how to make these paper flower embellishments. They are easy and fun to make.


Enjoy!

Thanks for dropping by. Hope you are having a lovely and creative day!

Latest Work 6-17-2019 Crochet Mesh Fingerless Gloves in a Rainbow of Colors

Hello Internet!


I’ve been on a roll with posting new crochet patterns. My latest pattern: A pair of rainbow crochet fingerless gloves.


This photo collage accompanies a FREE crochet pattern for rainbow fingerless gloves worked in Tunisian mesh stitch.

This photo collage accompanies a FREE crochet pattern for rainbow fingerless gloves worked in Tunisian mesh stitch.


Yes, I know, it’s June. Maybe someone in Australia can use these right now? (although, do be aware that the pattern is written in US terms…)


But, eventually, fall and winter will come again here in the USA — and at that point, perhaps you’ll be interested in having a pair of these to keep your hands warm (even while you’re texting or scrolling though your feeds). If you crochet, and these fingerless gloves suit your style, I invite you to grab the free crochet pattern for making them.

About the Author: Amy Solovay is a freelance writer with a background in textile design. She has been crocheting and crafting since childhood, and knitting since she was a teenager. Her work also appears at ArtsWithCrafts.com, KnittingandCrochet.net and Crochet-Books.com. Amy sends out a free knitting and crochet newsletter so interested crafters can easily keep up with her new patterns and tutorials. If you’re already an Instagram user, Amy also invites you to follow her on Instagram.

This page was last updated on 7-3-2019.

Latest Work 6-11-2019: New Crochet Dishcloth Pattern + New Middle East Travel Guides

Tunisian Crochet Mesh Dishcloth and Washcloth + Mosaic Art From Baltimore Park in Ashkelon, Israel

Tunisian Crochet Mesh Dishcloth and Washcloth + Mosaic Art From Baltimore Park in Ashkelon, Israel

I’ve designed zillions of different crochet stitch patterns. In 2015, I decided to compile them into a crochet stitch dictionary.

As I was working on that, I discovered the stitch pattern you see pictured above — the Tunisian crochet mesh stitch. I say “discovered” because I am sure others before me must have found it first. It’s one of the easiest possible variations of afghan stitch, consisting of afghan stitches alternating with yarnovers.

I became so enthralled with this stitch that I got sidetracked from working on the stitch dictionary — instead designing project after project after project with this stitch.

Then I put all the projects plus the stitch dictionary on temporary hold as another project consumed all my energy.

Years later, I am realizing this is still my favorite crochet stitch pattern. It’s FAST. It’s easy. It’s drapey and lovely. The possibilities for colorwork with this stitch are incredible — which is why it has held my attention for so long. You wouldn’t guess that by looking at this pic, which is just a couple of plain white dishcloths. But working on this type of plain, solid-colored project is the best way to learn the stitch. Once you’ve mastered it, to the point you can work it on autopilot, you’re better equipped to interpret the instructions for colorwork patterns made using this stitch.

In the next few days, I will be sharing a free crochet pattern for these dishcloths / washcloths. My newsletter subscribers will be the first to know when it is released.

On a different note: I just posted an Ashkelon, Israel travel guide here at my website. I took this photo at Baltimore Park, a little-known park in Ashkelon. This park is home to some remarkable mosaic art that deserves a broader audience than it’s getting. At the park, you’ll find an outdoor mosaic art exhibit that was curated by the late Ilana Shafir. Shafir is world famous for her incredible, tactile mosaic work.

You’ll also find a series of fascinating, mosaic-covered structures that I guess are supposed to be benches — but I discovered that they also make good backgrounds for photographing my crochet projects.

Here you can see the mosaic benches in Ashkelon's Baltimore Park.

Here you can see the mosaic benches in Ashkelon’s Baltimore Park.

In this picture, you can see a couple of the things I've been talking about. These texting gloves show you an example of a colorwork pattern you can crochet using the Tunisian crochet mesh stitch. And they're photographed  at  Baltimore Park, with one of the mosaic benches as a backdrop. I LOVE how all the elements of this picture came together.

In this picture, you can see a couple of the things I’ve been talking about. These texting gloves show you an example of a colorwork pattern you can crochet using the Tunisian crochet mesh stitch. And they’re photographed at Baltimore Park, with one of the mosaic benches as a backdrop. I LOVE how all the elements of this picture came together.

I’ve spent many blissful hours enjoying the mosaics and the ambiance at this park.

If you have a chance to travel to Israel in the future, don’t overlook Ashkelon as a possible stop on your itinerary. Ashkelon is home to some of the most remarkable public spaces and art and antiquities I’ve yet observed in the course of my travels.

  • אשקלון#
  • ישראל#
  • #הסרוגה
  • #פסיפס

About the Author: Amy Solovay is a freelance writer with a background in textile design. She has been crocheting and crafting since childhood, and knitting since she was a teenager. Her work also appears at ArtsWithCrafts.com, KnittingandCrochet.net and Crochet-Books.com. Amy sends out a free knitting and crochet newsletter so interested crafters can easily keep up with her new patterns and tutorials. If you’re already an Instagram user, Amy also invites you to follow her on Instagram.

This page was last updated on 7-3-2019.