Creativity really does love a good limitation—and that’s exactly why I love Craft Roulette. Episode 284 had me reaching into the corners of my stash, trying something new, and, as usual, laughing at myself along the way. Here’s the story of how this little easel card came to life.
The Prompt & The Plan
Craft Roulette gave us these four parameters:
- Project: FUNN fold (I went with a simple easel card)
- Colors: Birthday party (I took a vintage detour)
- Element: Maggie Smith (more on that in a sec)
- Random: Spirals (you’ll see!)
I didn’t even start working on it until two days after the episode aired (9/12/25), but once I pulled out my planning sheet, it was go-time. I had a very clear vision—and like most “clear visions,” it evolved wildly along the way.
Maggie Smith & a Castle Vibe
For the Maggie Smith element, I reached for a couple of retired stamp sets:
- Return to Hogwarts (Stamp Anniething)
- Masters of Magic (Kindred Stamps)
I had previously stamped this character months ago and never colored her. Destiny? Maybe. I paired her with the perfect sentiment: “Teaching–More than a job, it’s magic.” (Truth.)
Since Maggie Smith played a castle-dwelling professor, I went full vintage with the vibe. A leftover scrap of Close to My Heart Mischief paper (with pre-inked edges!) practically leapt out of my stash. A little cocoa ink and a blending tool later, I had a moody, magical background.
The Easel Card Base
Nothing too wild here:
- Card base: 4.25 x 11″
- Score at 5.5″ and again at 8.25″
- Fold in half, then fold the front flap back to make that easel magic happen
(Pro tip: double-check your glasses before gluing. I was wearing my computer glasses and wondering why everything looked wonky. Fixed that. Instant clarity!)
Spirals in the Stairs
Spirals showed up in the intricate details of the Grand Staircase Builder Die from Stamp Anniething. I love how delicate and ornate they are—and they helped sell the whole castle scene.
I added brown handrails (a bit of snipping and inking), glittery red stair spindles, and yes, I did debate whether to trim the sides. I went for it. With new scissors. (Purchased before Stashtember. Don’t judge…LOL!)
Coloring the Professor
I did all the coloring off-screen, using a variety of OLO markers. And let me tell you, by the time I got to the eyes, I was so nervous about ruining everything I’d done that I covered the entire image with Post-it notes—leaving just the eyes exposed.
I ended up finishing the eyes with Spectrum Noir Tri-blends, and honestly? I’m proud of how she turned out. Coloring is still a big learning curve for me, but this one felt like a win.
Sentiment & Embellishments
That sentiment really sealed the deal. I stamped it using some vintage Close to My Heart ink—and had to stamp it twice because, well, old ink is a gamble. But it turned out beautifully. Cut it out with a die that fit like it was meant to be.
Then came the fun part: placing our professor on the staircase with foam tape (especially around her tiny neck—gotta reinforce the delicate bits!). I added a few red embellishments from Trinity Stamps… until I realized the reds didn’t match. The horror. I swapped those out later by cutting circles from glitter paper using the Kristina Werner Sparkle Wave Dies from Concord & 9th. So, now, she’s standing tall, proud, and oh so glittery.
Supplies I Used
Here’s a peek at the tools and goodies that helped bring this magical card to life. Some of these links are affiliate links or discount links (like the glass mat one!), so if you use them—thank you!
- Magnetic Glass Craft Mat — Use discount code AMYULEN to save!
- MISTI — Because stamping once is never enough.
- Micro-tip Scissors — Snippy little lifesavers.
- 7″ Titanium Scissors — For bold, brave cuts (like trimming glitter stairs).
- Scoreboards — Essential for that clean easel fold.
- Stack-n-Sort Trays — Keeping my chaos contained.
- Ranger Blending Tool with Domed Foam — Vintage vibes, activated.
- Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue — My go-to glue.
- Gina K Reverse Tweezers — Game. Changer. Get these!
- OLO Markers / SBC — The real MVPs of this coloring session.
- Kindred Stamps — Save 10% on your first order!
- Concord & 9th — Saved a possible embellishment mishap.
- Foam Tape — Amazon / SBC
Final Thoughts
This card makes me ridiculously happy. Between the vintage papers, forgotten stamps, and an excuse to use my new reverse tweezers (life-changing!), it came together better than I’d imagined.
So here’s your reminder: Make time for creative play. Your mental health matters. Even if your glue dries crooked, your reds clash, or you get a hot flash mid-project. LOL!
PS: Still rocking a Cuttlebug over here. She’s old, she’s sturdy, and she still gets the job done. What’s your most “vintage” crafting tool?
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