Valley Oak Paper
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  • Extraordinary Embossing Folders
    May 23, 2024

    Extraordinary Embossing Folders

    This blog post is based on the weeklong class called Extraordinary Embossing Folders at OnlineCardClasses.com.

  • Post-Tax Season Update
    May 18, 2024

    Post-Tax Season Update

    This was my first tax season as a small business owner. Unfortunately I came to the conclusion that I need to get a paying job.

  • Washi Flower Power
    May 11, 2024

    Washi Flower Power

    When you’re using washi, you need smooth white cardstock that’s big enough for one repeat of the pattern.

  • Arctic Treat Box
    April 28, 2024

    Arctic Treat Box

    For the box, I’m using a Sizzix die set called Seasonal House Gift Box. It creates a super cute mini milk carton.

  • Stitched Mother’s Day
    April 27, 2024

    Stitched Mother’s Day

    For this card, I used the Spellbinders Stitching Die of the Month for April 2024. It’s called Stitched Wall Hanging.

  • Simple Mother’s Day Card
    April 19, 2024

    Simple Mother’s Day Card

    This Mother’s Day card is super simple yet impressive. It’s only using one die, Hero Arts Mother’s Day Window Die.

  • Wise Vintage Owl
    April 13, 2024

    Wise Vintage Owl

    To highlight the vintage floral pattern, I used a brayer to add some Lost Shadow Distress Oxide on the raised areas.

  • Swatching Glimmer Hot Foils
    April 3, 2024

    Swatching Glimmer Hot Foils

    My first swatch is Pink, although it could be argued that it’s purple. The next one is Satin Pastel Lavender.

  • Color Catalog & Towering Blooms
    March 29, 2024

    Color Catalog & Towering Blooms

    Everything had the same intensity, so nothing was emphasized.

  • Waffle Flower Sneak Peak to April
    March 12, 2024

    Waffle Flower Sneak Peak to April

    Become a member of the Sneak Peak Club to get early access to coming releases like this one.

  • Shabby Chic Tim Holtz Santa
    March 9, 2024

    Shabby Chic Tim Holtz Santa

    I want this card to be shabby chic, so I’m using a lot of gesso. Over-simplified, gesso is thick, matte white paint.

  • Shaped Shaker Card
    March 8, 2024

    Shaped Shaker Card

    Today’s card is a shaped shaker card, so I’m starting with the card base.

  • Sizzix Haul
    March 1, 2024

    Sizzix Haul

    I took advantage of the Sizzix Spring Sale. Here’s my haul.

  • Frosty Florals
    February 25, 2024

    Frosty Florals

    The main feature of this card is created with the Honey Bee Lovely Layers Amaryllis Die Set. It creates a lush amaryllis plant with a choice of two planters.

  • Flutter Into Spring
    February 22, 2024

    Flutter Into Spring

    Once I had laid out the scene on the Glimmer surface, it was easy to foil more, so I created one card with rainbow foil, and one with gold foil.

  • Swatching Distress Oxide Inks
    February 16, 2024

    Swatching Distress Oxide Inks

    I just got the last two ink pads I was missing from the Distress Oxide palette: Rustic Wilderness and Crackling Campfire.

  • Foiling Textured Paper
    February 10, 2024

    Foiling Textured Paper

    The best cardstock for hot foiling is the smoothest. But you can make your own smooth cardstock in a few simple steps.

  • Cardmaking Watercolor Palette
    February 1, 2024

    Cardmaking Watercolor Palette

    I wanted to swatch and organize a new watercolor palette for cardmaking.

  • Single-Layer Gnome Card
    January 28, 2024

    Single-Layer Gnome Card

    The adorable little gnome with her poinsettia is from Trinity Stamps’ From Our Gnome To Yours stamp and die set.

  • Happy Lunar New Year
    January 26, 2024

    Happy Lunar New Year

    Here in Silicon Valley the Chinese New Year is celebrated almost as much as Valentine’s Day.

  • Using up leftover foil
    January 20, 2024

    Using up leftover foil

    The critters’ gaze directs the viewers’ gaze, so use it to your advantage.

  • B♥️ Mine License Plate
    January 15, 2024

    B♥️ Mine License Plate

    I have so many ideas for how to use these! How about a 🍕PIZZA, 🎂 HBD, 🐻 BEAR, 🦌 DEER or 🐋 WHALE license plate?

  • You Make My Heart Smile
    January 8, 2024

    You Make My Heart Smile

    For this card I used the Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil Kit of the Month for December 2023.

  • Orchid Postage Collage
    December 29, 2023

    Orchid Postage Collage

    This card was inspired by the Waffle Flower December Sneak Peak Club that included the Mini Slimline Postage Collage dies and stencil.

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© Cecilia Huster 2025