Right as Rain - Cardmaking and Scrapbooking with Jean Manis

Watercolored Birdhouses with Newton’s Nook

Hello! Birdhouses make for a cheerful and inviting focal point in card designs. For this card, I used a Newton’s Nook stamp set and brought the stamped images to life with watercoloring. A scalloped die-cut background adds a playful touch, and I stamped the sentiment on a cloud for easy placement. Let’s take a closer look at how this colorful card came together!

- Create an A2-size card base from white cardstock.
- Cut a scallop background from patterned paper. (I used a die in the Mama Elephant Basic Set.) Adhere to base.
- Stamp Birdhouse Greetings birdhouses with VersaFine ink on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper; heat set.
- Watercolor the images—I used Tombow markers and Derwent Inktense pencils. You can read more about watercoloring stamped images here. Once dry, I added depth and detail with colored pencils. I don’t often get the chance to experiment with different coloring mediums, but when I do, it’s always an enjoyable creative process!
- Cut the images with the coordinating dies.
- Stamp Birdhouse Greetings sentiment on to white cardstock and cut with a die in the On Cloud Nine set. Cut an additional cloud with a die in the same set.
- Add birdhouses to card background with foam adhesive and the clouds with dot adhesive.

“Hello Sunshine” Spring Card

Hello! The arrival of spring always feels like a fresh start, and this card captures that spirit with cheerful colors and sweet birds perched on budding tree limbs. The “Hello Sunshine” sentiment adds the perfect touch of warmth, making this card a lovely way to share some seasonal joy. Created with Spellbinders die sets, it’s a bright and happy nod to spring’s beauty!

- Cut outside layer with the largest die in the Underwater Tunnel set from an A2-size panel of Classic White cardstock.
- Cut the teal layer with the next largest die in the Underwater Tunnel set from an A2-size panel of Waterfall cardstock.
- Stamp the Typewriter Adventure Sentiments sentiment in black ink on a panel of Beeswax cardstock.
- With the Perched Birds set, cut birds, leaves, and tree limbs from a variety of cardstock colors; assemble as required.
- For background visual interest, cut clouds from Classic White cardstock with dies in the On Cloud Nine set.
- Assemble the Underwater Tunnel layers and sentiment panel, leaving room to tuck in the tree limbs and clouds; add assembly to an A2-size card base.
- Tuck limbs into layers and adhere. Add clouds. Add assembled birds to scene with foam adhesive squares.

Easter Bunnies Matchbook Card

Hello! There’s something so delightful about creating miniature scenes, and this Easter matchbook card is no exception! I used products in the Art Impressions Matchbook series to craft a tiny world where bunnies are busy painting eggs in a scene that includes hutches, pottery, and paintbrushes. Capture the joy of the season with a playful, pocket-sized creation!

The Art Impressions Matchbook series has many different options. You can see an intro video here.

- Stamp Easter Bunnies images in VersaFine ink on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper; heat set.
- Watercolor the images with watercolor markers. I used Tombow markers. You can read more about watercoloring stamped images here.
- Once dry, cut the images with the coordinating dies included with the Easter Bunnies set.
- Cut matchbook from patterned paper with the MB Template. Add watercolored Easter Bunnies elements.
- Stamp Easter Bunnies sentiment on white cardstock, trim, and add to scene.

Triple the Cuteness Easter Card

Hello! Easter is a great time to embrace all things cute and colorful, and my latest card does just that! This playful creation features three Polaroid-style snapshots of adventurous bunnies behind the wheel, with each car in a different color combo — green, purple, and pink. The overlapping snapshots add a fun, dynamic feel, while the cheerful “hippity hoppity” sentiment makes it unmistakably Easter. I used a combination of Spellbinders products to bring this scene to life.

- Create a 5″ x 7″ card base and cover with patterned paper.
- Cut the photo frames with the Memory Frames die. Back with Waterfall cardstock.
- BetterPress the All Seasons Spring sentiment in black ink and cut with the coordinating die.
- Cut bunnies, cars, and balloon with dies in the Go Kart Go set. Assemble as required. I shared a card featuring the Go Kart Go set HERE.
- Adhere the bunnies inside the frames. Arrange frames on card base and adhere.
- Embellish scene with the assembled Go Kart Go balloon and clouds cut with the On Cloud Nine set.
- Add sentiment with foam squares.

Now through March 19, save up to 30% on select Spellbinders die sets!

Lucky Ride: Gnome Leprechaun

Hello! St. Patrick’s Day is almost here, and I couldn’t resist creating a playful card to celebrate! This festive design features a gnome, dressed like a leprechaun, cruising along in a cheerful little car. I used a combination of Spellbinders products to bring this whimsical scene to life, and I love how it captures the lighthearted spirit of the holiday.

- Create an A-2 size card base from yellow cardstock. Add a 1 1/2″ strip of dark gray cardstock along the bottom for the road.
- Using dies in the Gnome Drive Holiday (this is the base kit that includes the car) and Gnome Drive Spring sets, cut the pieces for the shamrocks, gnome, lucky horseshoe, and car from a variety of cardstock colors. Assemble.
- BetterPress the All Seasons Spring sentiment with black ink and cut with the coordinating die.
- Add elements to card base and embellish with clouds cut with the On Cloud Nine die set.

The Gnome Drive Spring set also includes dies to create an Easter-themed card. You can see an example HERE – a guest post I wrote for the Spellbinders blog.

Now through March 19, save up to 30% on select Spellbinders die sets!