14 Days, 14 Cards | Craft with Sarah’s Card Making Countdown | June 1–14, 2025

I just wrapped up Craft with Sarah’s Card Making Countdown, and as always, it was a blast! 14 days, 14 different cards—and 14 chances to play with all things paper, glue, Cricut, and practicing my alcohol markers coloring! 

I’ve joined a few of Sarah’s countdowns in the past—like her Christmas Countdown and Gnome Countdowns—and they never fail to spark creativity. I actually learned my Cricut basics through her tutorials and blog posts. She makes everything beginner-friendly and so much fun. I especially love how she adds in little challenges with each project—I’ve even been lucky enough to win a few times (three and counting!).

This year’s countdown was extra memorable. I managed to finish 6 cards before we left for our Jordan trip, then jumped right back in to complete the rest once we got home. I skipped Day 7 (Add-a-Number Cards) because I didn’t want to make a card for a specific age or anniversary, but here’s a look at the rest of my creations:

Jordan Week in My Happy Planner – Using Happy Planner Getaway Vibes & Simple Stories Here + There

This week is extra special — it’s Jordan week! We’re flying out early tomorrow, Sunday, for a quick Eid getaway, and I couldn’t be more excited, happy, and grateful to explore a new place. Since I won’t be bringing my planner on this trip, I made sure to design this layout before we left, so I could share it with you just in time.

For this spread, I reached for the Getaway Vibes sticker book — it just felt right. I initially considered using a gratitude-themed book (because honestly, I have so much to be thankful for!), but this layout called for all things travel. Don’t worry — that gratitude sticker book will still get plenty of love!

I also used a mix of Simple Stories “Here + There” washi tapes — they paired perfectly with the adventure theme.

Some of the stickers I used this week:

• “Life is a Beautiful Journey”

• “Adventure Begins”

• “Wander More”

• “Travel the World”

• And my favorite — “Fall in Love with Life”

For the day we fly back to Saudi, I added the sticker “Where to Next?” — because, well, we do have another trip in the pipeline. I won’t reveal where until we secure our visa… stay tuned! 

A little peek into our trip: My husband prepared a full itinerary, which you can see in one of the photos — complete with places to visit, restaurants to try, and all the logistics sorted. I saw this quote online that made me laugh:

Now, a quick note: I don’t bring my planner when I travel — my Classic-sized Happy Planner is just too bulky. Instead, I usually travel light with my Happy Planner Micro Notebook or my travel journal. For this trip, the travel journal is coming with me.

My mini journaling kit includes:

• My trusty Pilot Sign Pen set (compact and colorful!)

• A PaperMate InkJoy black pen (my fave!)

• And my Xiaomi photo printer — which prints inkless, sticker-backed photos. Perfect for memory keeping on the go.

All of that fits snugly into my Happy Planner portable pouch, so I’m ready to document whenever inspiration strikes.

And if you’re wondering how I fill out my planner page without bringing it? Sometimes I just add photos and short notes. Other times, I go all out and write everything based on what’s in my travel journal. It totally depends on my mood… and how un-lazy I feel after the trip! 

Can’t wait to share more once we’re back. Jordan, here we come! 

Hero Arts Mystery Box – Worth It or Not?

Watch my quick unboxing video here.

I’m a sucker for Mystery Boxes, so when I scrolled upon Hero Arts’ post on Instagram, I immediately jumped in and got one. I mean, who can resist the thrill of not knowing what you’ll get — especially when they promise over $170 worth of products for just $50?

But beyond the excitement, there’s another reason I’ve been ordering from different craft stores lately: I’m lowkey studying how different companies ship internationally, specifically to Saudi Arabia. It’s part curiosity, part logistics strategy. Will it be delivered to my doorstep? Or will I have to go through the post office? Are there surprise taxes? Is it cheaper overall compared to bringing stuff back from Manila (plus extra baggage fees)? Let’s just call it “research,” shall we?

Shipping Timeline

• Order Date: May 20

• Email asking about details of my shipping address received: May 30

• Confirmation from Hero Arts: May 31

• DHL Notification: June 3

• Delivery Day (today!): June 5 – but with a SAR 45.38 tax bill (around $12)

Hero Arts shipped via DHL, which is a plus for speed and tracking, but international shipping isn’t cheap. The Mystery Box was $50.00, shipping was $21.70, and with taxes added in, I paid close to $84 overall.

So… was it worth it?

Honestly? It’s just okay.

I did get my money’s worth in terms of product value. But personally, for the amount I paid — and maybe just a little more — I would’ve been happier picking and choosing exactly what I wanted.

Here's a close up of my Mystery Box loot:

If you take out the taxes and shipping, this box would’ve been a much better deal. So while I don’t regret it (Mystery Boxes are still fun), I probably won’t be getting another one soon. Lesson learned — and now onto the next shop to “study.” 😉

If you want to try your luck and grab your own Mystery Box, you can buy it here.

June 4 Polkadoodles Projects: Honeypie Mini Album & Mini Notebook

Let me introduce you to my two latest crafty makes—both full color, sparkle (shaker elements, baby!), and the irresistible charm of Polkadoodles’ cutie pie - Honeypie! I’ve been on a major Honeypie kick lately, and I couldn’t resist creating not one, but two happy little projects to kick off June.

I’m also so excited to share that I’m on this Polkadoodles journey alongside my amazing KKK Kraftsy Sisters - KM and Kaye! Be sure to follow their socials for even more crafty inspiration!

Project 1 – Honeypie Shaker Disc-Bound Mini Album

Say hello to my newest mini album! This shaker-style disc-bound album is full of Honeypie's charm, cuteness and crafty fun. The front cover is a shaker page filled with sequins, tiny flowers, and sparkly bits—just the kind of cheer we all need!

Inside, I played with a mix of plain cardstock, Wanda Printable Papers, and fun patterns from the Gnome Men Football USA collection. You’ll find interactive flaps, hand-stitched accents, inserts, and pockets tucked between blank pages, giving the future owner space to make it their own.

Of course, sweet Honeypie makes several appearances throughout—some already colored, others left blank as little coloring moments waiting to happen. I colored Honeypie with Copic markers in these colors: 0, BV11, B000, RV02, RV00, R43, YR00, and Y08.

This one is sparkly, sweet, and just a whole lot of cutesy!

---

Project 2 – Honeypie Spiral Notebook

Next up is a cheerful mini notebook that’s sunshine and love in paper form! I used another darling Honeypie image and set her against a gingham background from the Wanda Printable Papers. To make her little world more colorful, I added flower embellishments, grass and cloud die cuts, and finished the ring binding with colorful ribbons and trims.

It’s bright, happy, and ready to hold joyful notes, crafty lists, or doodles on the go!

---

I had so much fun making these pieces, and I hope they bring a smile your way too. Which project is your favorite—the sparkly interactive mini album or the floral-trimmed notebook?

Want to join the crafty fun? Come play along with us at the Polkadoodles Digi Choosday Challenge— anything goes challenge every week and tons of inspiration to spark your creativity! 💛

Thanks for stopping by! 🌸

xx, Ana

Week of June 2–8, 2025 - Happy Planner Weekly Layout: Jordan Trip Prep!

So… I’ve finally made the final decision — starting this week, I’ll be writing a dedicated blog post for each weekly layout instead of just updating my original planner entry. This way, I can take a little time to reflect on the week as well, not just do a quick “here’s this week’s layout” post.

I’ve noticed something about myself: even though I have plenty of free time, I still find myself constantly juggling a dozen things at once. So many creative ideas, projects, plans… and somehow still not enough hours in the day! Not complaining, just acknowledging the beautiful chaos. 

Case in point — just last Saturday, a friend sent me a photo of a card she was working on. Naturally, I pulled out one of my PHDs (Project Half Done) and got to work. But then the doorbell rang—it was an Amazon delivery: the extension cord I ordered for our new fish tank. I opened the package and thought, might as well set it up now. That somehow led to me reorganizing the living room, which then turned into cleaning the TV table… and just like that, the card-making session was completely forgotten. 😅

Now, on to this week’s layout!

I used the Going Places sticker book (how fitting, right?) and added some washi tapes. The whole layout is basically bubbling with excitement—because next week, we’re off to Jordan! 

My husband has a 10-day break for Eid al-Adha, and we thought—why not take the chance to explore somewhere nearby that is not Bahrain? Expect a travel blog soon because I’ll definitely be documenting the whole adventure!

Until then, this week is all about prepping, packing, and daydreaming.

All the Cricut MEA Prizes I’ve Won (So Far!)

I still remember the first time I joined Cricut MEA’s Ramadan Challenges back in March 2024. I was so excited to take part daily — crafting along with the community for almost 25 days straight — until I was told that Saudi Arabia couldn’t join. 😢

Fast forward to December 2024, and everything changed! Cricut MEA officially opened up the challenges to Saudi residents — and I didn’t waste a second. I jumped right into their Christmas Countdown Challenges, and from then on, I’ve joined every single challenge they’ve hosted.

December 2024

January 2025

February 2025

March 2025

And now… LOOK AT THIS LOOT! 😍

Watch my unboxing reel here.

A huge, heartfelt thank you to Cricut and Monster Middle East for organizing such fun and inspiring events. My crafty heart is full, and my shelves… well, they might be full too. 😅

And of course, none of this would be possible without my husband, who has been 100% supportive of all my crafty adventures from day one. ❤️️

Stay tuned — I’ll be sharing more of what I create with all these amazing Cricut goodies very soon!