Welcome to our August Designer Challenge with a theme of Mealtime (Food). I challenged the team to incorporate food into their projects. Their cards are, as usual, clever and delicious!

For my card and video I am featuring the Christmas Cookies dies that are part of the new Dessert Elements set. The card is a visual representation of the evolution of a cookie, starting on the front of the card with the dough and then progressing into the card and up the three levels of the Cascade Pop-up to become a plate of finished cookies.

Learn how I made this card by watching this video:

My card measures 5.5" x 5" when closed and can be mailed in an A7 envelope. For the front of the card I focused on the cookies in dough form, from bowl to rolling pin to cookie sheet. I combined pieces from Baking Charms, Square Cascade Add-ons, Dessert Elements and Christmas Wishes Clear Stamps.

As the card opens the Cascade Pop-up starts to expand.

By reversing the folds of the pop-up I was able to install it on the left panel of the card. This is a great (and easy) alternate assembly for the Cascade. I used the Square Cascade Add-ons and the Dessert Elements to create the rest of the cookie progression from cookie sheet to decorating station to finished plate of cookies. 

The piping bag is made from the slice of pie in the Dessert Elements set. Thanks to my cousin Jessica who helped me conceptualize some of the details of this card. We were crafting over Zoom a few days ago and she suggested adding a piping bag, overlapping the finished cookies on the plate and distressing the cookie sheets like this card. Fabulous ideas, Jess!

Ready to give this card a try? Here are the dies and supplies used in the video:

Now let's take a look at the amazing ideas from the Design Team. In each case you can click on the designer's name to go to their blog post. On their blogs you will find additional photos, supply lists and, in some cases, full video or photo tutorials.

Jen Webster combined the Bam Box Pop-up with the new Mealtime Elements for a delicious card with a so much flavor! I love the two styles of pasta dish she created, especially her signature color shading on the pieces. Be sure to click over to Jen's blog to watch a full video tutorial for this card. So wonderful!

Nicky Foden made an absolutely epic conversion of the Toolbox and Six Pack Add-ons, turning them into a picnic basket that she added to the Stage Pop-up. What a marvelous and clever idea! Be sure to click over to Nicky's blog for a full photo tutorial of this amazing creation!

Lois Bak perfectly captures the scene in an Italian restaurant with this wonderful Circle Charm Pop-up card. I love the combination of dies including the Wine Charms, Mealtime Elements and a pizza made from the Dessert Elements. Fantastic card!

Sandy Diller did something very cool with the theme - she made a shaped apron card! I love the pocket full of Baking Charms on the front of her card and then the great use of the Cascade Pop-up, Mealtime Elements and Dessert Elements inside. What a clever idea to style the chicken breast as bread! Click over to see this card in action on Sandy's blog. Love, love, love!

Suzanne Smit also used the Christmas cookies from the Dessert Elements on this fun Upsy Daisy card. The plates of cookies look scrumptious and the motion of this card is amazing. Be sure to click over to Suzanne's blog to see it in action! Love it!

Sue Small-Kreider created an ode to Thanksgiving Day with a double Cascade in a top fold card. I love all the courses she created and the wonderful oven scene on the front of the card. Be sure to click over to Sue's blog to watch a video on this card. Amazing!

Well we hope you feel hungry to try some food cards of your own. (See what I did there?) Join us next month on September 9, 2026 for Designer Challenge 109 with a theme of CASCADE. We will be making cards using the Cascade Pop-up die set.

Happy Crafting!