A: I'm very practical when it comes to brush storage of any kind! Most of my desktop containers are coffee mugs and thrifted or recycled containers. My blender brushes are in a small flower pot, and my watercolor brushes are in a ceramic container that might have been intended for kitchen utensils. I added some dividers inside it that cross at the center (slotted from top and bottom to connect together like a box divider) to keep the brushes more upright.

A: I feel like each type has its place... For general cardmaking I usually use solid core cardstock... but if I want to distress the cardstock, tear an edge, or sand it for added texture, the white core is revealed and adds a level of dimension that solid core doesn't. I've got both!

A: World Card Making Day is the first Saturday of October! Be on the lookout for special challenges, sales, and events hosted by your favorite companies. I learned that WCMD was started by Paper Crafts Magazine in 2006 as an event just for their subscribers, and was so well-loved that it became a tradition that has grown and continues today. Celebrate this weekend by making a card to share!

A: It looks like most quality envelopes are made from papers with a weight of 75-120 gsm. HERE is a chart that shows a comparison of different weight scales with the gsm (grams per square meter) standards. Printer papers or scrapbook papers are good options!

A: Any flat surface is fair game! My most recent non-card ventures with stencils have been a shaped wood piece from the dollar store (acrylic craft paint), polymer clay earrings (pressed into the clay to make a pattern), a mini canvas and a thrift store frame (both with stenciled elements that were painted into a scene).