Cathy Zielske's Blog, page 3

Cathy Makes a Card: The Blog Post

If you’d like to be entered for a chance to win the card from today’s livestream (August 20, 2025) just leave a comment below! I’ll choose a winner at random by next week’s live.

All supplies for this week’s livestream will be listed at the bottom of this post. In the meantime, check out the live (or replay) here: 

Now for the promotion details that I shared during my livestream! From today through August 22, you can get $10 off any purchase of $79 or more at Altenew. Just use th...

Charming Christmas themes for all you book lovers from Pinkfresh Studio!

Welcome to a blog hop for the new Twinkle and Tradition release from Pinkfresh Studio! Today I’m sharing a charming set that book lovers will love for making holiday cards. The Tree of Tales suite of products is so fun and the stencils make it so easy to bring to life! Here is my tutorial showing the products and cards:

Fun, right? Here are some photos of the finished cards.

I just love the look of the pressed in gold that the press plates give!

Now onto the gi...

Let’s unbox the September 2025 Card Kit from Simon Says Stamp (and make 5 cards!)

The Simon Says Stamp September 2025 Card Kit is here and it’s called Birthday Blitz! Let’s get right to my unboxing and card making video, shall we?

A blitz indeed! Here are more photos of my cards:

Card One features that fun Ferris Wheel die and the Birthday Sentiments embossing folder:

For Card Two, I put the duckie on the ocean!

I think the Poppin’ Corn die is so stinking cute!

For Card Four, I played with the Birthday Blitz stamps for some pla...

Cathy Makes a Card: the blog post

Mercury must really be in retrograde! Sorry about ending the livestream 13 minutes in. I tell ya, maybe I need a vacay! Either way, both Parts One and Two are below:

If you’d like to be entered for a chance to win the card from today’s livestream (August 13, 2025), just leave a comment below! I’ll choose a winner at random by next week’s live.

All supplies for this week’s livestream will be listed at the bottom of this post.

Here is Part 1:

Here is Part 2:

Even wi...

Card for Halloween, but make ’em cute!

No one does cute Halloween like Pretty Pink Posh! Today I’m sharing two oh so cute Halloween cards.

Join me for a video premiere and live chat at noon central time. And yes, I did buy a pink witch’s hat just for this occasion.

Pink spiders? Why not?!! Also, that Luxe Glitter Cardstock from Simon Says Stamp adds just the right amount of glitz goodness.

The Potion Bottle Shaker Dies are too cute!

If you love cute Halloween, be sure to check out the new release t...

Never have I ever tried… the blackout technique!

Today I’m sharing the results of my first ever blackout technique using an embossing folder, an array of colorful inks, and a nice solid black one!

I was honestly surprised that I had not tried this and I can see what all the fuss is about. Check out the video here:

It really does feel like magic when you swipe that ink pad over the surface!

If you have embossing folders, especially the 3D kind, give this a try today!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

SUPPLIES:

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Gorgeous florals from just a few colors + a blog hop!

Welcome to a blog hop to showcase the August release from Altenew! Today I’m using a lovely Build-a-Garden set to show how just a few colors yield gorgeous results.

I have a video sharing how this card came together:

Leaving a bit of white or light areas really enhances the look of depth on a stenciled design!

You can subscribe to Altenew’s Build-a-Garden and save $10 off the price! There is no long term obligation and you can cancel at any time.

Now onto the giveaw...

Cathy Makes a Card: The Blog Post

If you’d like to be entered for a chance to win the card and the gift card to the Waffle Flower shop from today’s livestream (August 6, 2025), just leave a comment below! I’ll choose a winner at random by next week’s live.

In other news, the AC guy will be here Friday. I will live.

All supplies for this week’s livestream will be listed at the bottom of this post. In the meantime, check out the live (or replay) here: 

I will be sharing photos following the live but there is a...

A fun card formula for your floral die sets (and a blog hop!)

Today I’m sharing another easy card formula that works well with any small floral die set you may have! And, it’s also part of the Happy Camper release Day 2 blog hop! The formula is easy: take any die you have and double it up for two of the same design.

This works really well with small floral sets that I know card makers love to have in their stash! But it could work with any smallish motif design in stamps, dies or stencils!

Now onto the blog hop special!

BLOG HOP SPE...

If you like to lol, these stamps and dies are for you!

There is a new release out today from Simon Says Stamp called Happy Camper and I have a handful of fun new releases, all around the idea of “Lol”.

I’ll share the make for the card above in this tutorial, plus show you a few bonus cards, as well:

Here are the bonus cards:

I have all the supplies linked below but be sure to check out the entire Happy Camper release! Here are my new releases: (click on images to see in the store!)

Plus, the items from m...