If your idea of autumn includes dragons, distant castles and a little adventure, Sam has a beautiful card to share. Samantha Kennard of Mamthy’s Crafts has brought our Dark Fantasy Fall Expansion to life in a richly layered handmade card.

Card and photograph by Samantha Kennard, Mamthy’s Crafts.

A dragon, a sunset and a magical day

The central dragon-and-rider image feels like a glimpse into a much bigger story. Behind them, a castle rises against a glowing sunset. Sam has framed the scene with green and gold, drawing those colours out into the layers around it.

I love how the cream autumn paper and darker band give the dramatic artwork a place to shine. Leaves, ornate details and those narrow borders bring everything together, while the “Have a magical day” sentiment adds a lovely personal finishing touch.

Sam shares in her post that she had just finished watching the Merlin series again and loved working with the dragon images. There is something wonderful about letting the stories we enjoy follow us into our craft rooms.

See Sam’s original Dark Fantasy Fall card post at Mamthy’s Crafts. Pop over to admire her make and leave her a little love!

Bring a little fantasy to your cardmaking

A printable junk journal collection can be a lovely starting point for a card for a fantasy reader. Take inspiration from Sam’s arrangement: one strong focal image, a coordinating background, a contrasting paper band and a short sentiment. Repeating a colour from the illustration in your borders helps the layers feel connected.

Choose your card blank first, then size your printables to fit. Make a plain-paper test before using your favourite cardstock, and arrange the layers before attaching them. These are suggestions inspired by the finished card; Sam’s own post is linked above for the project details she has shared.

Shop the Dark Fantasy Fall Expansion on Etsy
Explore all My Grandma’s Teacups printables

The collection is a digital download to print and craft with at home. Sam’s finished card is her own handmade creation, shared here as inspiration.

Thank you, Sam

Thank you for giving these autumn dragons such a beautiful outing, Sam. I always enjoy seeing the choices another maker brings to the papers, and this card has such a lovely sense of adventure.

You can find more of Samantha’s handmade cards and creative projects at Mamthy’s Crafts. Who in your life would love a little dragon magic in the post?

For more printable project ideas, collection news and subscriber freebies, join the My Grandma’s Teacups newsletter.

A little stone cottage, glowing windows and autumn leaves—Sam has made the prettiest invitation to slow down and enjoy some paper crafting. Our design team member Samantha Kennard of Mamthy’s Crafts has used the Cottagecore Comforts Fall Expansion to create a lovely stepper card.

Card and photograph by Samantha Kennard, Mamthy’s Crafts.

A cosy cottage brought to life

Sam chose one of the collection’s cottage stickers as her main topper. The roses climbing the stone walls, pumpkins beside the path and warm light in the windows make this tiny home feel so welcoming. In her own post, she shares that one of these pretty cottages would be her dream home. I can certainly see why!

The burgundy “Home Sweet Home” background gives the cottage a rich autumn setting, while the soft gingham strip across the front step adds a gentle country touch. I love the way the cottage silhouette stands out against that darker paper. The folded card base makes it a little scene to display.

Visit Sam’s original Cottagecore Comforts card post to see her project and leave her a little love.

Try the look in your own craft room

This is such a sweet example of taking a printable designed for journalling and giving it another life in a handmade card. For your own version, choose a cottage image as the focal point, pair it with a quiet coordinating pattern and let the little house do the talking. A stepper base adds dimension; a simple folded card is another lovely place to begin.

Print the artwork to suit your own card blank, check the size with a plain-paper test and arrange your pieces before gluing. These are ideas inspired by Sam’s finished card; her original post is the source for the details she has shared about her make.

Shop the Cottagecore Comforts Fall Expansion on Etsy
Browse all My Grandma’s Teacups printables

The collection is a digital download to print and craft with at home. Sam’s finished card is her own handmade creation and is shown here for inspiration.

A little creative time well spent

Thank you, Sam, for sharing this beautiful card with us. There is something lovely about seeing these papers turn into a thoughtful piece of happy mail.

For more of Sam’s cards and creative projects, visit Mamthy’s Crafts. Would you make a cottage card for a friend, a new neighbour or your own little autumn display?

Join me for more printable craft ideas, collection news and subscriber freebies: sign up for the My Grandma’s Teacups newsletter.

Turn a Victorian printable into a reusable autumn noteboard

There is something wonderful about bringing a printable off the page and into your everyday creative space. This project transforms our Pumpkin Spice & Pretty Stitches notepaper from the Victorian Haberdashery collection into a charming, wipe-clean clipboard for your craft-room wall.

What you'll need

• Letter-size brown kraft clipboard
• Pumpkin Spice & Pretty Stitches Victorian Haberdashery printable
• Printer and paper
• Repositionable low-tack adhesive
• Clear self-adhesive contact paper
• Small erasable marker (test on your contact paper first)
• Jute twine and optional decorative beads or charm
• Deep burgundy velvet ribbon
• Dollar Tree artificial autumn foliage and berries
• Scissors, ruler, smoothing card, and hot glue gun

Step 1: Print and prepare

Print the Victorian notepaper at actual size (100%). Trim any unwanted white margins, keeping the ornate border intact. Place it on the kraft clipboard to check the alignment beneath the metal clip.

Step 2: Apply repositionable adhesive

Apply a light, even layer of low-tack adhesive to the reverse of the printed sheet, following the adhesive manufacturer's directions. Avoid soaking the paper.

Step 3: Centre the print

Position the print on the clipboard and smooth gently from the centre toward the edges. Reposition until the borders look even.

Step 4: Make the surface erasable

Cut clear self-adhesive contact paper large enough to cover the printed page. Peel back a little of the liner, align the film, then gradually smooth it over the print with a soft cloth or plastic card. Press out air bubbles and trim neatly. Do not cover moving clip parts. Test your chosen dry-erase or wet-erase marker on a small inconspicuous area first; some contact papers stain or ghost. Wipe off test writing promptly using the method recommended for the marker and film.

Step 5: Dress the clip for autumn

Make a generous bow with deep burgundy velvet ribbon. Arrange a few small faux maple leaves, berry stems, and a touch of lace around the top clip. Secure the embellishments carefully with hot glue, keeping the hanging hole and clip mechanism clear.

Step 6: Tether the erasable marker

Tie a comfortable length of jute twine to a marker with a secure loop or holder and fasten the other end to the clipboard. Thread on a few autumn-coloured beads or a leaf charm if desired. Keep the marker cap accessible.

Step 7: Hang and enjoy

Hang the clipboard securely on your craft-room wall. Use the protected lined area for project reminders, supplies to buy, and little notes to yourself. Wipe clean as needed, using a marker compatible with your contact paper.

Make it your own

Try adding antique brass accents, vintage lace, or a tiny sewing charm to echo the thread spools, scissors, and measuring tape in the artwork. Keep decorations away from the writing area so the noteboard remains useful.

Find the coordinating printable: Shop the Victorian Haberdashery Fall Expansion on Etsy.

More autumn projects: Explore our craft-room project list.

More printables and creative inspiration: Join the My Grandma’s Teacups newsletter for project updates and freebies, starting with the free five-page Apron Pocket Kit.

There is something lovely about seeing a collection take on a life of its own in someone else's craft room. Our design team member Samantha Kennard of Mamthy's Crafts has turned the Romantasy Fall Expansion into a beautiful handmade card, and I couldn't wait to share it with you.

Card and photograph by Samantha Kennard, Mamthy's Crafts.

A little autumn magic, made by Sam

The deep plum background, golden leaves and celestial details set the scene beautifully. A reader tucked beside a glowing window becomes the focal point, while the pale ribbon and ornate sentiment panel bring a softer touch to the rich autumn colours. The narrow gold border pulls it all together.

I love how Sam has given the artwork room to shine. It is such a pretty reminder that a junk journal collection can find its way into cards, happy mail and little gifts for the readers in our lives, too.

See Sam's original Romantasy card post at Mamthy's Crafts. Please pop over, have a look around and leave her a little love!

Make something magical with the Romantasy Fall collection

If Sam's card has you reaching for your scissors, you can find the Romantasy Fall Expansion printable junk journal kit in our Etsy shop. It is a digital download for printing and crafting at home; Sam's finished card is her own creation.

For a card inspired by this look, try a richly patterned background, one main character or illustration, a narrow coordinating strip and a sentiment. Arrange the pieces before gluing, and leave a little space around your focal image so it stands out. Choose the size to suit your own card blank and printer.

Shop the Romantasy Fall Expansion on Etsy
Browse all My Grandma's Teacups printables

Thank you, Samantha

Thank you to Sam for sharing another beautiful project with us. It is a joy to see these story-filled papers become something someone can hold, send and treasure.

You can find more of her handmade cards and creative adventures at Mamthy's Crafts.

Would you use these autumn colours for a card, a journal page or a little bookish gift? I'd love to hear what you would make.

For more printable project ideas, creative inspiration and subscriber freebies, join the My Grandma's Teacups newsletter.

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Choose your favourite pin to save Sam’s Romantasy card inspiration. Card and original photograph by Samantha Kennard of Mamthy’s Crafts.

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A little Highland magic for your writing desk

A beautiful digital bookmark can become so much more than a place to hold your page. For this project, I am using the Scottish Highlands fall bookmarks to turn a clear paper-insert pen into a tiny piece of autumn artwork. Golden skies, heather, castles and Highland stags look lovely wrapped around the barrel, and the clear outer casing gives the paper a polished finish.

This is an easy project to make alongside a matching bookmark or reading journal. Once you have worked out the fit for your particular pens, you can prepare several inserts from the same sheet.

What you will need

• The bookmark sheet from the Scottish Highlands Harvest Festival / Fall Expansion collection on Etsy.
• Blank paper-insert pens with a removable clear outer casing, inner cylinder and pen clip.
• An ordinary colour printer and thin, printer-compatible paper. Start with plain paper; heavy cardstock may be too bulky.
• Scissors or a paper trimmer, a ruler and a pencil.
• A scrap of plain paper for a fitting template.

Browse bulk paper-insert pen options on Amazon.ca (affiliate shopping search). Check the listing photographs and assembly details before buying: you need a pen that opens to accept a paper wrap around an inner cylinder, with a clear outer shell and a clip. This is a shopping search, rather than a recommendation for a tested pack. Ordinary transparent pens, beadable pens and opaque sublimation blanks may not have the space needed for this project.

1. Open one pen and make a paper template

Follow the instructions supplied with your pen to remove the clear outer casing. Lay the parts in order and take a quick photograph so you can put everything back correctly. Keep any small springs and fittings together.

Measure the usable straight section of the inner cylinder, leaving threads, end fittings and moving parts clear. Wrap a scrap of thin paper around it, mark where the edges meet, and trim a rectangle. Test it inside the clear shell. The paper should sit smoothly and the casing should close easily without forcing it.

Our approximate starting size is 1½ inches around the cylinder × 4½ inches along the pen (about 38 × 114 mm). Different pens will need different measurements. Allow yourself a little experimenting to find the correct size, including whether a tiny overlap fits or the edges need to meet without overlapping.

2. Resize your digital bookmark

Keep your original download untouched and work from a copy. The Scottish Highlands fall sheet is designed for landscape US Letter paper, 11 × 8½ inches. At that intended page size, the individual bookmarks are approximately 2 inches wide.

For a wrap about 1½ inches wide, start by printing at 75%. The calculation is 1.5 ÷ 2 × 100 = 75%. This reduces both the width and the length proportionally. It does not automatically create an exact 1½ × 4½-inch rectangle: you will still trim the length to fit your pen.

1. Open the bookmark file in a program that lets you control its printed dimensions. Set the original sheet to 11 × 8½ inches, landscape, if the image does not already have a defined page size.
2. Choose a custom print scale of 75%, with no additional Fit to page, Fill page, borderless expansion or multiple-pages-per-sheet scaling.
3. Print a plain-paper test and measure the actual bookmark width with your ruler.
4. Use your fitting template to trim the length, moving it over the artwork first to choose which details you want to keep.

If your printer app does not offer a reliable percentage control, crop a single bookmark from a copy of the sheet and place it in a layout program at 1½ inches wide with its proportions locked. Crop the length to 4½ inches rather than stretching the artwork. Print that prepared layout at 100% / Actual size.

Different pens require experimenting. Seventy-five percent is a starting point for this sheet and this approximate wrap width, not a universal setting. To adjust a test, use: new percentage = current percentage × desired printed width ÷ measured printed width. For example, if a 75% test prints 1.6 inches wide but you need 1.5 inches, try about 70.3%. Recheck the length and the paper thickness as well.

3. Print and trim your chosen design

Once the plain-paper template fits, print your artwork on thin paper using the appropriate printer settings. Let the ink dry fully. Cut straight, clean edges and trim away any white border you do not want showing through the casing.

Choose the section of the design before cutting: keep the stag’s face, castle or heather where it will be easiest to see. Remember that some artwork will curve around the back of the pen. Check the design’s direction against the pen tip and clip so it will face the way you want when the pen is held.

4. Wrap the inner cylinder

Gently curl the printed paper around a smooth pencil or similar rounded tool to encourage a curve without creasing it. Wrap it around the pen’s inner cylinder with the printed side facing out. Position the seam towards the back or beneath the clip when the pen’s construction allows.

Start with a dry fit. Avoid bulky layers of tape or glue, and do not cover the threads, ink mechanism or moving parts. The clear casing should hold the insert in place once everything fits properly.

5. Replace the clear casing and test

Slide or refit the clear outer shell carefully, following the pen’s assembly instructions. If the paper catches, bunches or twists, stop and remove it. Trim a sliver, reduce the overlap or try thinner paper, then test again. Do not force the shell closed.

Refit the tip and any other parts, check that the clip sits properly, and test the click or twist mechanism and the writing tip. The paper should remain smooth and clear of the mechanism.

A few little fixes that make a difference

• The shell will not close: check the wrap length, overlap, paper thickness and clearance around the fittings.
• A white seam shows: trim the white edge or reposition the paper; only add a small overlap if your pen has room.
• The design looks too small: measure the printed result and check for extra printer scaling before changing the file.
• The main image disappears around the back: rotate the wrap or choose a different crop before making the next one.

Make a matching little gift

Pair your pen with a full-size bookmark from the same fall sheet and tuck both into a simple paper sleeve. It is a lovely small gift for a reader, journal keeper or someone who enjoys pretty stationery. Save your successful measurements, paper choice and print settings with the pen supplier’s details so the next batch is easier.

Explore the Scottish Highlands Fall Expansion on Etsy, or browse the My Grandma’s Teacups printable collections for another world to bring to your desk. These listings are digital downloads; pens and printed supplies are purchased separately. Check the licence included with your files before selling finished items, and never redistribute the digital artwork.

Join our newsletter for more freebies, tutorials and cosy creative inspiration. I would love to see which bookmark you turn into a pen!

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Some designs deserve a little time outside the journal. For this project, we’re taking the foliage artwork from the Dark Fantasy Fall Extension and turning it into decorative candle wraps using waterslide decal paper.

Styled with loose grapevine and autumn leaves, the finished candles make a wonderfully moody centrepiece for a bookish table or fall display.

Choose LED pillar candles for this project whenever possible. If you decorate real wax candles, keep them unlit and use them for display only. The decals and clear coat do not make a candle safe to burn.

Gather Your Supplies

• Dark Fantasy Fall Extension artwork — the printable papers used for this project
• Waterslide decal paper suitable for your printer
• Epson EcoTank ET-2800 or a compatible inkjet printer, using ordinary printer ink
• LED pillar candles — smooth surfaces are easiest to decorate; test adhesion first
• Scissors
• A shallow dish of water
• A soft cloth or paper towel
• Clear acrylic spray sealer, if required by your decal paper
• Loose grapevine and artificial autumn leaves for styling

Check the instructions supplied with your waterslide paper before beginning. Printing, sealing, soaking and drying requirements vary between products. Clear decal paper allows the candle colour to show through; a pale candle helps the artwork remain visible.

1. Choose and Size Your Artwork

Choose a foliage design from the Dark Fantasy Fall Extension papers. Measure the height and circumference of your candle, then size the artwork to fit the area you want to decorate.

A quick test print on ordinary paper is helpful here. Wrap it around the candle to check the placement before using your decal paper.

For LED candles, keep the design clear of switches, battery compartments and other working parts.

2. Print and Seal

Print on the correct side of your waterslide paper using the settings recommended by its manufacturer. Allow the ink to dry.

If your paper requires sealing, apply the recommended clear coat before soaking. Work in a well-ventilated area and follow the spray label’s drying instructions.

Don’t rush this step. An inadequate seal can allow the printed colours to run or the design to break apart in the water. Use the number of coats and drying time specified for your paper and sealer.

3. Trim and Soak

Trim the design neatly, removing excess blank space where appropriate.

Place the decal in water for the time recommended by the paper manufacturer. It is ready when the printed film begins to slide gently on its backing. Avoid pulling or forcing it.

4. Slide the Design into Place

Make sure the candle surface is clean and dry.

Hold the decal against the candle and gently slide the backing paper out from beneath it, keeping the printed film supported as you go. Work slowly around the curve.

Use a damp, soft cloth to smooth from the centre towards the edges, easing out trapped water and air. Handle the film gently while it is wet—it can stretch or tear.

For LED candles, keep water away from the battery compartment and electrical components.

5. Leave It to Dry

Set the candle upright and allow the decal to dry fully according to the paper instructions. Avoid handling the decorated area during this stage.

Only apply an additional finish if the product instructions recommend it and it is compatible with your candle’s surface. Test unfamiliar materials on a small, inconspicuous area first.

6. Build Your Autumn Display

Arrange the finished candles on a tray with loose grapevine and a scattering of artificial fall leaves. Let the vines curve naturally around the arrangement for a relaxed woodland feel.

The dark foliage brings a touch of enchanted forest to the table—just right beside a stack of autumn reads.

Use the glow from LED candles only. Decorated wax candles must remain unlit, and the entire arrangement should be kept away from flames and heat.

Give Your Printables Another Life

This is such a lovely way to carry a favourite collection into your seasonal decorating. A paper chosen for a journal can become the detail that ties a whole display together.

Shop the Dark Fantasy Fall Extension on Etsy to find the artwork for this project. This is a digital download; candles and craft supplies are purchased separately. You can also explore all My Grandma’s Teacups printable collections.

Join our newsletter for more printable projects, creative ideas and subscriber freebies. There are plenty more ways to take these designs off the page!

Save for Later