Pop-Up Ball Grasshopper and Box

It’s time for the Karen Burniston Design Team January 2026 Challenge whose theme is BUGS.

I made a Bitty Ball sized pop-up grasshopper in a bug decorated box using the die sets – Bitty Ball Pop-Up, Animal Add-Ons 6, Bitty Ball Double-Ups, Bitty Ball Access Tabs, Bug Borders, Happily Ever After along with the Oval – Crosshatch and Circles – Crosshatch.

Watch the process video to see how I made this card.

Box: Cut from 12×12 sheets of cardstock one 10-inch square and on 10.25-inch square. On a score board, score on all sides of each square at .5-inch and 1-inch. Cut the corners as shown in video above to form four tabs. Assemble the two box pieces as shown in the video and glue to the inside bottom an 8-inch square of decorative cardstock. Add another 8-inch square of decorative cardstock to the box lid. Decorate the box lid with the Bug Borders insects cut into individual insects. (I used the second largest Circles -Crosshatch die as a guild in the center of the box lid to aid in the symmetrical layout of the bugs.) Uses twine or ribbon to tie the box closed.

Sentiments: Cut from red paper “Happily Ever After” using the die set of the same name and glue to the underside of the box lid.

Grasshopper: (Watch the assembly video located at the bottom of the linked page for Bitty Ball Access Tabs.) Using the Bitty Ball Pop-Up, Bitty Ball Access Tabs and Bitty Ball Double-Ups die sets, cut enough pieces to make two pop-up balls. Assemble as show in the assembly video. (Hopefully you won’t have to replace the rubber band as I did, but think through the locations of the access tabs when you assemble your grasshopper, for easy access.) Cut the grasshopper legs, mouth and eye pieces using the Animal Add-Ons 6 die set. glue in place as shown in the video above. (Remember to not glue the top edge of the decorative panel under the eyes so you can slide the antenna under it and glue in place.)

Cut the two largest ovals from the Oval – Crosshatch die set from patterned cardstock and glue together. Glue the grasshopper onto the oval making sure that it is centered when open on the oval. Use a Velcro circles to attach the oval to the bottom inside of the box.

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Disclaimer: Karen Burniston products are provided free of charge by the manufacturer for review and use. All other items were personally purchased. Compensated affiliate links used where or when possible, meaning I will receive a small percentage commission from these manufacturers at no cost to you. This will allow me to add more content to my YouTube channel and help out a lot. Thank you.

Materials Used:

Dies

Papers

  • Bazzill – 8.5×11-inch Solid Colored Cardstock – Candy Corn
  • Bazzill – 12×12-inch Double-Sided Cardstock – Easter Grass Marble
  • Keep It Simple – 12×12-inch Double-Sided Cardstock – Lucky Day Collection
  • Black, Pink, Red, White and Yellow Cardstock

Ink

Adhesives

Tools

  • Die Cutting Machine
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Bone Folder
  • Score Board
  • Stamping Blocks used as paperweights
  • Scissors
  • Paper Masking Tape
  • Tweezers
  • We R Memories – QuickStick

Miscellaneous

  • Blue Baker’s Twine
  • Velcro 1-inch Circles

Double Z Baseball Retirement Card

This card was made for Craft Roulette #299 whose parameters were: a double Z-fold card, Rudolph colors, optimistic element and plain circles. I used Karen Burniston dies and stamps as well as Waffle Flower dies and Graphic 45 stamps to create this card.

Watch the process video below to learn how this card was made.

Cardbase: Using a 4.25×11-inch sheet of tan cardstock, fold in half for a 4.25×5.5-inch cardbase. Fold the front flap in half again to form the z-fold. Using the second smallest crosshatch circle die in Karen Burniston’s Circles – Crosshatch die set, center the die over the front panel folded in half to cut through the two layers as shown in the video above. Save the two circles. Cut a half-inch by 11-inch long strip of the tan cardstock and fold in half. Fold one half of the strip again in half to make the second z-fold piece for the card. Stamp all the pieces as described below before assembling the card.

Baseball Equipment: Using the Graphic 45 Good Ol Sport set, stamp the baseball bat onto the long section of the 11-inch strip. Stamp one of the saved circles with the baseball stamp. From white cut out the largest circle in the Waffle Flower Stamps Baseball Dad die set. Cut the stitching from red. Glue the stitching onto the white circle to make it look like a baseball.

Sentiments: stamp “Happy Retirement” on the second save circle using Karen Burniston’s Fishing stamp set. From the Graphic 45 stamp set add “Good Ol’ Sport” to the bottom right corner of the card using black ink.

Envelope: The panel card fits into an A2 (4.25×5.5-inches) size envelope with the back flap stamped with “Take me out to the ball game!” from the Graphic 45 stamp set.

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Thank you for experiencing this blog post.

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Disclaimer: Karen Burniston products are provided free of charge by the manufacturer for review and use. All other items were personally purchased. Compensated affiliate links used where or when possible, meaning I will receive a small percentage commission from these manufacturers at no cost to you. This will allow me to add more content to my YouTube channel and help out a lot. Thank you.

Materials Used:

Dies

  • Karen Burniston in cahoots with Riley & Company – Circles – Crosshatch – 1057
  • Waffle Flower Stamps – Dies – Baseball Dad

Dies

Papers

  • Red, Tan and White Cardstock
  • Fraser Papers for William House – A2 Envelope – Genesis Text Milkweed Smooth

Ink

  • Memento – Fade-Resistant Dye Ink – Tuxedo Black
  • Pigma – Mircon 01 Fine Tip Pen – Black

Adhesives

Tools

  • Die Cutting Machine
  • Scrapbook.com – Magic Mat
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Scrapbook.com – Mint Tape

Photoplay – Nutcracker Tags

Welcome to Day 6 of my Nutcracker series using a variety of stamps and die sets to make some nutcracker themed cards. My card today uses a die set by PhotoPlay – Nutcrackers Layered and Karen Burniston’s Topper Tags die set.

Watch the process video below to learn how this card was made.

Cardbase: Cut tags that will allow for a 4-inch figure using Karen Burniston’s Topper Tags die set. cut the decorative hole reinforcers in a contrasting color and thread a piece of baker’s twine through the hole and tie off.

Nutcrackers: Using PhotoPlay’s Nutcrackers Layered die set, create your nutcrackers as shown on packaging or create your own uniforms and hair styles.

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Disclaimer: Karen Burniston products are provided free of charge by the manufacturer for review and use. All other items were personally purchased. Compensated affiliate links used where or when possible, meaning I will receive a small percentage commission from these manufacturers at no cost to you. This will allow me to add more content to my YouTube channel and help out a lot. Thank you.

Materials Used:

Dies

Papers

  • Scrapbook.com – BetterPress – 6×8-inch Double-Sided Cardstock – Nutcracker
  • Matte Gold Cardstock
  • Black, Blue, Pinks Cardstock

Adhesives

Tools

BetterPress-Nutcracker Christmas Card

Welcome to Day 5 of my Nutcracker series using a variety of stamps and die sets to make some nutcracker themed cards. My card today uses products by Spellbinders – Simon Hurley’s BetterPress press plates & dies set Nutcracker Trio and Dina Wakley Media’s BetterPress inks of Eggplant, Fir and Ruby.

Watch the process video below to learn how this card was made.

Cardbase: I used a purchased kraft paper A2 (4.25×5.5-inch) cardbase and matching envelope.

Nutcrackers & Plaid Background: The plaid background was created using the Spellbinder’s BetterPress of the Month – Design A Plaid press plate set using red and green ink. The nutcrackers and sentiment are from Simon Hurley’s Better Press press plates & dies set Nutcracker Trio printed in purple, red and green. The inside sentiment banner is from the Design A Plaid set.

Envelope: The panel card fits into an A2 size envelope with a nutcracker and “fa la la la la la la la la” on the envelope back using Karen Burniston’s Season of Cheer and Hero Art’s Nutcracker stamp.

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Thank you for experiencing this blog post.

I hope this inspires you and makes you smile.

Please subscribe, like and leave comments 😊

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Disclaimer: Karen Burniston products are provided free of charge by the manufacturer for review and use. All other items were personally purchased. Compensated affiliate links used where or when possible, meaning I will receive a small percentage commission from these manufacturers at no cost to you. This will allow me to add more content to my YouTube channel and help out a lot. Thank you.

Materials Used:

Press Plates & Dies

  • Spellbinders – Simon Hurley’s BetterPress Press Plates & Dies – Nutcracker Trio
  • Spellbinders – BetterPress of the Month Press Plates & Dies – Design A Plaid

Stamps

Papers

  • Spellbinders – BetterPress – 5.5 x 4.25” (A2) Cotton Card Panels – Porcelain & Pebble
  • Target – A2 Cardbase and Envelope – Kraft

Ink

  • Pigma – Mircon 01 Fine Tip Pen – Black
  • Spellbinders – Dina Wakley Media’s BetterPress Ink – Eggplant, Fir and Ruby

Adhesives

Tools

  • Die Cutting Machine
  • Spellbinders – BetterPress Letterpress System
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Stamping Blocks used as paperweights
  • Spellbinders – Best Ever Craft Tape

What’s New Kitty Cat

It’s time for the Karen Burniston Design Team December 2025 Challenge whose theme is SONG LYRICS. I made an A2 (4.25×5.5-inch) card using the new die and stamp sets – Playful Pop-Up, Dog and Cat Playful Add-Ons, Cat Borders, Greeting Labels and Cat Sayings along with other Karen Burniston dies.

Watch the process video to see how I made this card.

Cardbase: I cut a 5.5×8.5-inch rectangle from orange 100lb. cardstock. Then I scored and folded in half to create a 4.25×5.5-inch A2 side-fold cardbase. Using the largest die in the Rectangles – Crosshatch die set, cut four panels of decorative paper to cover the four card panels. (I ended up cutting three panels and using a large scrap of the decorative paper for the card back.)

Sentiments: Word surgery (i.e. – Die cut words being cut apart and glued back together to form new words) was involved to make the custom words for this card’s front. “What’s” is made from the “W” from the Go Wild die set and the “hat” from the word “Christmas” in the Merry Christmas die set. “New” is from the Happy New Year die set. Word Set 4 -Just A Note used the words “up” and “to say” as well as the words “Blessings” and “color” from Word Set 7 – Autumn, to make the words “pussy cat.” The three “WHOA” inside used the Mini Alphabet and Numbers set.

The stamped sentiments “Happy Purr-thday” and “HOME is where the CAT is” are from the new stamp set Cat Sayings. They were stamped in black ink on white cardstock and die cut using the Greeting Labels and Hearts – Crosshatch die sets. Cut an oval for a personal message to go on the inside.

Paw Print Border: Using the Cat Borders die set, cut one paw print die from black cardstock and one paw back die from pink cardstock. glue the two pieces together. Trim border to fit the card front as shown in the photos and video. Use the extra paw prints to decorate inside the card.

Playful Pop-Up: Cut one of the large die, one of the face plate and one of the “K” shaped mechanism in the Playful Pop-Up set from black cardstock. Assemble as show in the video above.

Cat: Using the Dog and Cat Playful Add-Ons die set, cut from black, the large cat ears, paw arms, nose/mouth, and small oval eyes. From pink cardstock cut, the small cat ears, nose, tongue and paw back pieces. From white cardstock cut one set of large oval eyes and one set of whiskers. Assemble and install as show in the video. Use a white gel pen to add the eye and nose highlights. I

Envelope:  The card fits into an A2 (4.25×5.5-inch) size envelope whose back flap was stamped β€œHope your day is PURR-fect!” from the Cat Sayings stamp set.

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Thank you for experiencing this blog post.

I hope this inspires you and makes you smile.

Please subscribe, like and leave comments 😊

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Disclaimer: Karen Burniston products are provided free of charge by the manufacturer for review and use. All other items were personally purchased. Compensated affiliate links used where or when possible, meaning I will receive a small percentage commission from these manufacturers at no cost to you. This will allow me to add more content to my YouTube channel and help out a lot. Thank you.

Materials Used:

Dies

Stamps

  • Karen Burniston in cahoots with Riley and Company – Clear Stamps – Fall Phrases

Papers

  • Ms. Sparkle & Co. Paperie – 5.5×7.5 Single -Sided Paper – Rainbow
  • Recollections – 8.5×11 100 lb. Cardstock – Orange
  • Black, Pink and White Cardstock
  • Fraser Papers for William House – A2 Envelope – Genesis Text Milkweed Smooth

Ink

Adhesives

Tools

  • Die Cutting Machine
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Bone Folder
  • Score Board
  • Stamping Platform
  • Stamping Blocks used as paperweights
  • Scissors
  • Paper Masking Tape
  • Tweezers
  • We R Memories – QuickStick

map fold nutcracker card

This card was made for CRAFT ROULETTE #295 whose parameters included a map fold, planter colors, Β from the sky element, and three in a row. I used stamps and dies by Hero Arts and Karen Burniston to make this card.

Watch the process video to see how I made this card.

Cardbase: Watch the video to see how the card base was made using digital paper by Carnation Crafts into a map fold card.

Nutcrackers were die cut using Hero Arts’ Fancy Dies Toys.

Sentiments were stamped on white cardstock using Hero Arts’ Stamp & Cut A Little Nuts set and cut out using Karen Burniston’s Greeting Labels die set. Three 1-inch circles were cut and marked with an “X” and a center circle to show where to stop when cutting the tabs. The tabs were folded to be inserted through a 3/4-inch hole in each of the card’s panels that will have sentiments. The oval sentiment labels are then glued onto the unfolded tabs and swiveled to make sure they are not glued to the card base.

Envelope: The card fits into an A2 (4.25x 5.5-inches) size envelope.

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Thank you for experiencing this blog post.

I hope this inspires you and makes you smile.

Please subscribe, like and leave comments on this site and my YouTube channel. 😊

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Disclaimer: Karen Burniston products are provided free of charge by the manufacturer for review and use. All other items were personally purchased. Compensated affiliate links used where or when possible, meaning I will receive a small percentage commission from these manufacturers at no cost to you. This will allow me to add more content to my YouTube channel and help out a lot. Thank you.

Materials Used:

Dies

Stamps

  • Hero Arts – Clear Stamps & Dies- A Little Nuts

Papers

  • Carnation Crafts – Digital Paper – (printed on copier paper)
  • White Cardstock

Ink

Adhesives

Tools

  • Die Cutting Machine
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Bone Folder
  • Stamping Platform
  • Stamping Blocks used as paperweights
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Paper Masking Tape

Lighted Christmas Wreath Card

This lighted wreath card will brighten someone’s day. It was made with dies and stamps from Karen Burniston’s Fall releases and include the Pine Cones, Greeting Labels and Dog and Cat Playful Add-Ons die sets along with Christmas Wishes stamp set.

Watch the process video to see how I made this card.

Cardbase: Using a purchased A6 cardbase and envelope, adhere decorative paper to the card front. Save strips of decorative paper to decorate the card front and back.

Lighted Wreath: Use a battery powered circle light to build the wreath onto. Cut 12-13 small pine branches from the Pine Cones die set from green cardstock. (I found that adding shims and using a metal die-cutting plate worked the best with my die-cutting machine to get crisp cuts.) Cut from light brown thin cardstock three of the small pine cone backs and three small pine cone fronts. Follow the video above for assembly suggestions and how to make a large red bow to cover the battery and push button using the Dog and Cat Playful Add-Ons set.

Sentiments: All the sentiments of β€œMerry Christmas” and β€œWishing you twinkly lights and cozy nights” are part of the Christmas Wishes stamp set and cut out using the Greeting Labels set.

Envelope:  The card fits into an A6 (4.75x 6.5-inches) size envelope.

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Thank you for experiencing this blog post.

I hope this inspires you and makes you smile.

Please subscribe, like and leave comments 😊

___________________________________

Disclaimer: Karen Burniston products are provided free of charge by the manufacturer for review and use. All other items were personally purchased. Compensated affiliate links used where or when possible, meaning I will receive a small percentage commission from these manufacturers at no cost to you. This will allow me to add more content to my YouTube channel and help out a lot. Thank you.

Materials Used:

Dies

Stamps

Papers

  • Bazzill – 8.5×11 Textured Cardstock – Rain Forest
  • Graphic 45 – 8×8 Double-Sided Cardstock – Joy to the World – Hallelujah!
  • Light Brown, Red and White Cardstock
  • Park Lane Paperie – A6 Cardbase and Envelope – Ivory

Ink

Adhesives

Tools

  • Die Cutting Machine
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Stamping Platform
  • Stamping Block
  • Scissors
  • Needle Nose Pliers
  • Sponge Dauber
  • Paper Masking Tape
  • We R Memories – QuickStick

Miscellaneous

  • Pear Blossom Press – Halo Light Combo

A Snowy Yeti Pop-Up Birthday Card

This card was made for CRAFT ROULETTE #294 whose parameters included an A2 card, holiday colors,  from the mountains element, and fancy paper. I used stamps and dies by Karen Burniston to make this card.

Watch the process video to see how I made this card.

Cardbase: Watch the video to see how the card base was cut with a corner fold using the Rectangles – Crosshatch dies. The front and back panels were embossed using the embossing plates in my die-cutting machine and the Pattern Plate – Swirls die. Color swirls with a blue glitter brush marker.

Yeti Pop-Up: Cut from white the largest die in the Playful Pop-Up and the arms from the Monster Playful Add-Ons set. From blue cut the face plate square from the Playful Pop-Up and hands from the Monster Playful Add-Ons. Cut the mouth with lots of teeth in the from the Monster Playful Add-Ons once from black and once from red. Cut the v-shaped tongue piece from black and trim into two oval nostrils. Cut the two sets of oval eye pieces from black and white. Assemble pop-up as shown in the video above.

Sentiments:RAWR!” is cut from blue and white cardstock. The inside sentiment “Hope your Birthday is Wild” is from the Monster Sayings stamp set and cut out using the Greeting Labels die set.

Envelope: The card fits into an A2 (4.25x 5.5-inches) size envelope.

___________________________________

Thank you for experiencing this blog post.

I hope this inspires you and makes you smile.

Please subscribe, like and leave comments on this site and my YouTube channel. 😊

___________________________________

Disclaimer: Karen Burniston products are provided free of charge by the manufacturer for review and use. All other items were personally purchased. Compensated affiliate links used where or when possible, meaning I will receive a small percentage commission from these manufacturers at no cost to you. This will allow me to add more content to my YouTube channel and help out a lot. Thank you.

Materials Used:

Dies

Stamps

Papers

  • Bazzill – 8.5×11 Cardstock – Evening Surf 7-798
  • Black, Red and White Cardstock
  • Fraser Papers for William House – A2 Envelope – Genesis Text Milkweed Smooth

Ink

  • Scrapbook.com – Shimmer Glitter Brush Marker – Frosty Blue

Adhesives

Tools

  • Die Cutting Machine
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Bone Folder
  • Stamping Platform
  • Stamping Blocks used as paperweights
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Paper Masking Tape
  • Tweezers
  • Spellbinders – Mighty Mister Spray Bottle
  • We R Memories – QuickStick

Bee Pop-Up In A Flower Card

IT’S TIME for the Karen Burniston Products – KB Riley LLC November 2025 Release Blog Hop. (See GIVEAWAY details at the end of this post for blog hop list.) The Design Team have come together with Karen today for a fun blog hop to celebrate the release of 15 new dies and 5 new stamp sets. Sneak peeks of the new release started last week, and the dies are available to pre-order NOW!

Today’s card uses the new dies of Greeting Labels, Mini Ball Access Tabs, Surprise Ball Access Tabs and Animal Add-Ons 6 and a new stamp set – Bug Greetings. The card also uses previously released die sets of Mini Ball Pop-Up, Hexagons – Crosshatch and Ovals -Crosshatch.

Watch the process video to see how I made this card.

Cardbase: Cut eight dotted lavender cardstock hexagons using the largest die in the Hexagons – Crosshatch. Using the next two plain edged hexagon dies in the set, cut a total of 12 of the medium hexagon from patterned paper and six of the smaller die also from patterned paper. Cut two sets of the Surprise Ball Access Tabs from the dotted lavender cardstock. Assemble card as show in video.

Bee Pop-Up: Cut two ball halves and 12 decorative pieces from yellow cardstock using the Mini Ball Pop-Up set. Also cut one set of Mini Ball Access Tabs from yellow cardstock. Assemble Mini Ball as shown in the video above using the access tabs. Create the bee using the Animal Add-Ons 6 set. Cut four sets of the antenna, one large circle and two small eye ovals from black cardstock. Cut two of the smaller circle from white cardstock and the mouth from pink. (I cut the mouth from white and colored with a pink marker.) Cut one set of wings and two wing vein overlays from clear vellum. Assemble as shown in video above. Cut one lavender oval for the base for the bee to set on using the medium die in the Ovals -Crosshatch set.

Sentiments: All the sentiments are stamped on white cardstock using the Bug Greetings stamp set and the Greeting Labels die set was used to cut the belly band label out. The large label on the back used the largest crosshatch die in the Hexagons – Crosshatch set.

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Thank you for experiencing this blog post.

I hope this inspires you and makes you smile.

Please subscribe, like and leave comments 😊

___________________________________

Disclaimer: Karen Burniston products are provided free of charge by the manufacturer for review and use. All other items were personally purchased. Compensated affiliate links used where or when possible, meaning I will receive a small percentage commission from these manufacturers at no cost to you. This will allow me to add more content to my YouTube channel and help out a lot. Thank you.

Materials Used:

Dies

Stamps

Papers

  • Bazzill – 12×12 Polka Dot Embossed Cardstock – Lavender
  • Memory Box – 6×6 inch Double-Sided Cardstock – Anemone Grove – PP1026 & Glimmering Gladiola – PP1028
  • The Paper Studio – 8.5×11 Clear Vellum
  • Black, White and Yellow Cardstock

Ink

Adhesives

Tools

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the release Karen Burniston and each of the Karen Burniston – KB Riley LLC Design Team members will be giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to some lucky person who comments on our blog posts, so make sure you join the hop and comment on everyone’s blog post. Winners will be randomly chosen from ALL of the blog hop comments received on our blog posts by Monday, 1st December 2025. Lots of chances to win some goodies, so just leave a comment on this post or any other blog hop posts to enter! Don’t forget to leave some way for us to contact you, in case you are a lucky winner!

Karen Burniston – 

Lois Bak –

Sue Small-Kreider – YOU ARE HERE

Frances Byrne –

Jennifer Webster –

Suzanne Smit –

Nicky Foden –