Handmade Card Tutorial Featuring January 2026 Crafty Crew Kit | Cristena Bagne
Today’s project feels like a soft breath of nostalgia wrapped in florals, patchwork sweetness, and the cozy joy of handmade gifts. Cristena is sharing a beautiful card she created live on YouTube, featuring every single element from the brand-new January 2026 Crafty Crew Kit — and the result is pure heart-melting charm.
From delicate quilt-inspired backgrounds to playful kitties and a sweet character holding her cherished teddy, this design celebrates everything we love about crafting: warmth, whimsy, and the magic of adding little touches that make handmade cards feel extra special.
Settle in with your favorite drink and enjoy this inspiration straight from Cristena’s craft table. ☕💗
Hey all! I couldn't wait to use the January 2026 Crafty Crew Kit, I wanted to create a project that really showcased how beautifully all the pieces work together along with my thoughts and Ideas behind it all - the papers, the characters, and the sentiments. So during my YouTube Live the other night, we built this sweet scene step-by-step, focusing on layering, texture, and those tiny details that make handmade cards feel like treasured keepsakes.
I started with a quilt-inspired background using the patterned papers from the kit. The mixture of florals, butterflies, and soft pastels felt perfect for a cozy, heartwarming theme. I used my paper cutter to cut the quilt panels. After adhering the pattern paper to plain white cardstock, I ran it through my Crossover II die cutting machine with the Qulited stencil from the kit. Dry embossing the stencil onto the "quilting square" gave it great texture, and the look of an actual quilt.
After finishing the dry embossing, I used a white gel pen to create some stitch marks and framed it with the lacy border die for a delicate, feminine finish.
Next came the characters — and honestly, I adore these little cats. Each one has its own personality, and the kit’s illustrations lend themselves beautifully to playful scenes. I colored them with soft neutrals and warm tones so they would blend right in with the shabby-chic background.
Stitched with Love Meadow holding her stitched teddy bear became the focal point. Her expression, her outfit, and those bright green eyes make her feel like she’s stepping right out of a storybook. I placed her slightly off-center so the quilt blocks and kitties could frame her naturally.
To finish the card, I added layered sentiment strips, lace trim, and a few soft embellishments for texture. Everything in the kit came together seamlessly — and I truly love how this card turned into a little quilted vignette celebrating creativity, friendship, and the joy of handmade pieces.
If you missed the live and want to see how the entire card came together, you can watch the full replay here:
👉 YouTube Live Replay: https://youtube.com/live/le4eKqYaZwo
Like My Card? Here Are the Supplies I Used:
I hope this project inspires you to try mixing patterns, layering textures, and creating scenes that tell a story of their own.
Inky hugs!
Cristena