Creating with Lindsay's Layouts
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Lori Whitlock April Blog Hop
Monday, September 2, 2024
The Anatomy of a Card Kit
Handmade cards are a special treat, especially if they are unexpected and arrive in the mail! I love both giving and receiving handmade cards. I create DIY card kits that are simple and quick to construct. I do the work, and you take the credit for a set of beautiful cards. I thought I'd share a sneak peek into just how I get from stacks of paper to assembled cards.
The process begins with batch cutting card fronts. These are the base that will attach to the blank card. I prefer to cut mine at 4"x 5.25", simply because I prefer a small margin of the card to show when assembled.The next step is to get my Cricut involved. I cut a variety of basic shapes. Think circles, scallop circles, banners, brackets and ovals. These work especially well with colorful Doodlebug paper. After that, I begin laying out pieces. This part of the process take the longest. I try to make sure that each kit has a variety of colors, different sentiments and an assortment of embellishments. This photo actually shows six different card kits in progress.Monday, May 27, 2024
Creative Chaos Event in Rockford, IL
A few weeks ago, I attended the Creative Chaos event in Rockford, IL, hosted by Erica Rose Creates. It was a weekend filled with laughter and crafting. I met many creative ladies, reconnected with old friends and enjoyed some amazing midwestern delicacies (like Portillo's chocolate cake). My favorite part of an in person event is being able to bring table gifts to my friends. I love the planning and brainstorming before the event. It helps me get excited for the upcoming weekend or retreat, looking forward to seeing the joy on the faces of the recipients. Keep reading for a peek at my Creative Juice Goodie Bag.

I love a good theme. I was shopping at Five Below with my girls when I stumbled upon this notepad and pen. I immediately thought the lemon looked like a Doodlebug icon. From there, my theme was chosen! I found these adorable bags on Amazon, a pin on Etsy, plus lemon chapstick and lemon mints (yes, they're real!). Finally, I created the juicebox card from a Lori Whitlock cut file, cutting it on my Cricut. I tweaked it a bit to make it into a personalized card.

I added the "creative juice" label to the side of the juicebox. I also cut the lemons as a print then cut file. They are popped up with foam adhesive. The inside of the card features a message from me. All of the papers are from Doodlebug, aside from the white cardstock.
I love the end result, and every recipient did too! Remember to make lemonade from lemons. And always let your creative juices flow!
Die Cut Juice Box File: Lori Whitlock
Die Cut Lemons: Lori Whitlock
Notepad: Five Below
Goodie Bags: Amazon








