die cuts - Right as Rain

Art Impressions Whimsical Friendship Card

Hello! Today I am stepping into a world where imagination takes flight with a friendship card showcasing the Art Impressions Mushroom Cubbies stamp and die set. It has been awhile since I had the time to watercolor stamped images, and I found myself immediately absorbed in the activity! I have written about my journey with watercolor stamped images HERE.

- Create the background with the Lawn Fawn Stitched Cloud Backdrop from Sea Glass cardstock. Add to an A2-size card base.
- Heat-emboss the Mushroom Cubbies “Lots of Bugs and Kisses” sentiment on Noble Fir cardstock. Cut with the grass die included in the Sunny Studio Stamps Picket Fence Border die set. Add to card base.
- Stamp the images in the Mushroom Cubbies set with Versafine on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper and heat set. Color the images with watercoloring mediums of choice (I used Tombow + Zig markers). Correct any mistakes with Copic Opaque White, which I used on the mushroom cap white spaces. Tombow Markers: Poppy Red (856), Dark Jade (177), Light Green (195), Saddle Brown (977), Redwood (899), Process Blue (452), Navy Blue (528), N95 (Cool Gray 1), N65 (Cool Gray 5), Light Apricot (850), Tan (942), Sand (992), N15 (Lamp Black), N25 (Black); Zig Markers: Yellow (50), Bright Yellow (52).
- Once dry, cut the images with the dies included in the set. The die for the mushroom house cuts the windows and door. I backed those with yellow cardstock. Add images to card front with dot and foam adhesive.

Spring-Themed Window Scene

Hello! I am sharing a spring-themed friendship card featuring several Sunny Studio Stamps die sets. This scene captures the essence of the spring season with charming elements like window box flowers and garden tools. The sentiment “You Brighten My Day” encapsulates the joy and warmth this card aims to convey. I recently posted a round-up of spring-themed cards HERE.

- Dry-emboss A2-size Sea Glass cardstock with the Burlap folder. Add to the card base. Cut a strip of green cardstock to represent grass and add to the card base. (Alternatively, you could use a grass die to cut the top of this piece.)
- Cut the window, window box, and shutters from a variety of cardstock colors with the Wonderful Windows die set. Assemble. Back window with yellow cardstock. (I previously used the Wonderful Windows set on a card HERE.)
- Cut flowers, garden pots, and gardening tools with dies in the Spring Garden Dies set from a variety of cardstock colors. Assemble.
- BetterPress the sentiment in Leaf ink with the Always and Forever Press Plate. Cut with coordinating die.
- Add window assembly, sentiment, flowers, pots, and garden tools to the card front, using foam adhesive where appropriate.

Fairy Tale Castle Birthday Card

Hello! Today, I am sharing a birthday card that combines the Deluxe Caboodle Value Club exclusive “Fairy Tales” die set with the Spellbinders March 2024 Large Die of the Month Club Kit “Classic Tales.” You can see my first card created with the Large Die of the Month Club Kit – “Classic Tales” – HERE.

Each month, Deluxe Caboodle Value Club members receive a bonus item. The March bonus item is the exclusive Fairy Tales die set, which is ONLY available to members of the Deluxe Caboodle Club.

- Dry-emboss an A2-size cardstock panel with the Stargazer folder. Add to card base.
- Cut castle and book pieces with the “Fairy Tales” and “Classic Tales” die sets from a variety of cardstock colors. Assemble.
- BetterPress the Let’s Celebrate sentiment in black ink on Pomegranate cardstock. Trim with the book outline die in the “Classic Tales” die set.
- Add castle, book assembly, and stars to the card front.

Spring-Themed Handmade Cards

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the days are growing longer, cherry trees and daffodils are in bloom, and the birds are chirping. Additionally, Easter is just around the corner – March 31. I am revisiting spring-themed cards from my blog archive. Going through this process provides a fresh perspective on the supplies I already own, as well as designs and color schemes I may want to use again.

Throughout this post, I’ll be using cards from my blog archive as examples. Click on the card image to be taken to the original post.

A quaint garden shed with gardening tools and a pot filled with blossoms illustrates the joy of getting back into the garden.

A welcoming front door, artfully decorated for the season, invites the warmth of the season into our hearts.

Say “hello” with spring florals that capture the season’s essence.

Cute chicks and bunnies capture the joy of Easter.

Embrace the dynamic nature of spring by incorporating weather-related elements on your cards such as rainboots and raincoats. Cheerful floral-adorned boots brave the spring showers and a sunny scene with a duck, dressed for rain, adds a playful touch.

A CAS friendship card featuring colorful butterflies adds whimsy and signifies the arrival of warmer weather and blooming flowers.

Insights This post has made it clear that I have plenty of spring-themed dies and stamp sets in my collection. What I did not feature in this roundup were cards with spring-themed embossing folders, although I know I have many. You can find inspiration for using embossing folders to create impactful backgrounds HERE. I also did not feature cards that include stamped backgrounds. Find inspiration for using backgrounds stamps HERE.

This theme is versatile and can be adapted to various spring occasions, such as Easter, Mother’s Day, or simply as a way to say “hello” or “thinking of you” during the spring months. It appeals to a broad audience, from friends and family to neighbors and colleagues. I hope this roundup sparks your imagination to create your own spring-themed cards.

Mother’s Day Card with Everyday Foliage

Hello! I’m excited to showcase a CAS, Mother’s Day card that captures the essence of elegance and simplicity, perfect for celebrating the incredible women in our lives. With the Spellbinders die set Everyday Foliage, designed by Simon Hurley for the Tulip Garden Collection, I crafted a card that harmonizes the delicate silhouettes of plants with the lustrous charm of gold cardstock.

- Cover A2-size card base with textured white cardstock.
- BetterPress the Let’s Celebrate sentiment in black ink on Brushed Gold cardstock. (I shared another card with this same sentiment HERE.) Trim panel to 4″ x 5 1/4″.
- Cut a 3″ circle in the panel with die in the Everlasting Circles set.
- Cut Everyday Foliage pieces from Pink Sand and Dahlia cardstock.
- Dry-emboss a Snowdrift cardstock panel with the Tiny Dots folder.
- Adhere the sentiment frame to the dry-embossed panel (debossed side up) with foam adhesive. Add assembly to the textured white cardstock card base.
- Add foliage to the inside of the frame with foam adhesive, tucking the stem pieces under the circle.