Polkadoodles Digi Choosday Project | Double Easel Seaside Card

Hi everyone!

Today’s Digi Choosday DT prompt is Easel Card with a Seaside theme, and I had so much fun creating and learning double easel project! For my card, I used the adorable Polkadoodles Winnie Starfish/Sandcastles Design Sheet together with the Winnie Starfish/Sandcastles Papers. I am not really a fan of the beach but I like how vibrant and texture-ful this collection is!

The patterned papers already have that gorgeous mixed media look - full of vibrant color, texture, and depth - without the mess and needed clean up after a mixed media session. So if you love the mixed media vibe but don’t want the cleanup (same here sometimes), this collection is definitely for you. But don't get me wrong - I love mixed media. It's therapeutic for me especially once I get into the groove. But sometimes, clean up is blah.

For this project, I created a double easel card. It may look a bit complicated at first glance, but I promise, it’s actually super easy to make! I’ve noticed I’ve been saying that a lot in my recent projects, but it’s true. I love creating something that looks extra special and detailed, yet is totally doable and beginner-friendly.

Materials Used

• White cardstock
• Solid colored cardstock
• Patterned paper - I used Polkadoodles' Winnie Starfish/Sandcastles Papers
• Digis - I used Polkadoodles' Winnie Starfish/Sandcastles Design Sheet
• Sentiment - “Hi!” from Winnie Celebrations 3 Sentiments
• Tim Holtz Guillotine
• Cutterpillar Crease Scoreboard
• Foam tape
• Scissors
• Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue

Instructions

1. Start with white cardstock and trim 2 pieces at 4.25 x 11. If you're using a letter size cardstock, just divide it in half on the short side.

2. Set one aside. Take the other and cut it in half to get 2 pieces of 4.25 x 5.5.

3. Set one aside again, then cut the other into 2 pieces of 2 1/8 x 5.5.

4. Take one of those and cut it in half to get 2 pieces of 2 1/8 x 2 3/4.

Scoring:

1. Score the 4.25 x 11 piece at 2 3/4 and 5.5. Fold in half like a normal card, then mountain fold the first score line - this becomes your main card base.

2. Take the 5.5 x 2 1/8 piece and score at 1 3/8 and 2 3/4. Fold the same way - this becomes your mini card base.

Layering:

1. Cut solid cardstock to 4 1/8 x 5 3/8.

2. Cut patterned paper to 4 x 5.25.

3. Layer white cardstock (4.25 x 5.5), solid cardstock, and patterned paper - this will be your card front.

Assembly:

1. Apply adhesive to the first panel of the main base (don’t go past the score line).

2. Attach your card front to this panel.

3. Add a solid color cardstock inside your card base measuring 4 x 5.25.

4. Repeat layering for the mini card using:

• White base (2 1/8 x 2 3/4)
• Solid cardstock (2 x 2.5)
• White top layer (1 7/8 x 2 3/8) - Add your “Hi!” sentiment here.

5. Attach the mini easel inside the main card using foam tape, centered at the bottom.

Decorating:

1. Add your digi elements (I cut mine using my Cricut) and pop them up with foam tape on the front.

2. Add a small digi inside the mini card base using foam tape.

The mini easel acts as the stopper for the main easel, and the small digi holds the mini easel open! So cool, right?

Color Me Happy: April Recap & Fresh May Pages (plus manifesting all the good vibes for this month!!!)

This week’s The Happy Planner layout is all about color and good vibes - smiley washi tape paired with the Color Me Happy sticker book, I think this the perfect way to welcome May. Why Color Me Happy? Because it simply is happy.  And starting the month surrounded by bright colors and uplifting sentiments like “Good Vibes,” “Do more of what makes you happy,” and “This colorful life” just sets the tone right - specially with vacation coming up in a few weeks!

Before diving fully into May, I’m sharing my April journaling recap. My planner continues to double as my daily journal, and for my Daily Stampede, I managed to fill just the entire page. I thought I would need an additional insert but eventually I ended up pacing myself midway through the month.

Reading-wise, April was such a win: 10 books finished, bringing me to 27 reads year-to-date! My standout favorite from my reading journal (made using Traci Reed Designs Bookish collection) has to be False Witness by Karin Slaughter - definitely my top read for the first quarter of 2026.

I also joined Bee Happy Online Party, and even though I didn’t win, my niece, Sabi did - which made it even more fun! I wrapped up almost all my Bee Happy Anniversary Weeklies too (except the bag - because well, I'm in Saudi and I cannot buy it and get it here on time), and I’m genuinely proud of finishing so many, especially since every project was a first for me.

From crafting a Birthday Bouquet with air dry clay (soooo much harder than it looks!), to finally trying proper glass mosaic (with grout this time!), to creating 14 mini albums using my Design Team collections from Kelly Bangs Creative and Traci Reed Designs - April pushed me creatively in the best way. Plus a last-minute pop-up book - totally worth the rush. I almost skipped it, but thanks to some encouragement from the husband and friends, I finished just in time - and I love how it turned out. Read more about my pop up book and my creative journey story here.

We wrapped up the week with a little celebration: a movie date watching The Devil Wears Prada 2. The storyline may not have been groundbreaking, but the nostalgia hit just right - I even teared up a bit. Plus, we tried a different popcorn flavor besides our usual cheese and/or sour cream. We tried pizza flavor and it was so good and tasty! Definitely a new popcorn fave.

Of course, dessert followed (because priorities! Remember - Life is short. Eat dessert first) - Belgian chocolate toast and Spanish latte and then we tried Bup Burger, which was so good and surprisingly affordable. We will definitely be back if not this week, maybe next week. We also made a quick stop at Krispy Kreme for their Harry Potter tumbler! Only SAR 29 (or Php 450) with drinks too!

Now, onto a new week: catching up on future projects before vacation, prepping for the Spring Market, and getting ready to launch next weekend’s crafting workshop with Happy Sandscapes - where I’ve lined up two fun projects for the attendees.

And just like that, we’re stepping into May with full hearts, colorful pages, and so much to look forward to.