Right as Rain - Cardmaking and Scrapbooking with Jean Manis

Spellbinders | You’re Pure Classic!

For this playful Father’s Day card, I reached for the Spellbinders March Large Die of the Month Kit and leaned into a theme that feels perfectly “Dad.” What’s great about this die set is that it’s versatile enough to create a feminine card as well!

Classic sneakers take center stage, paired with grill implements, a mustard bottle, and a hot dog for a fun backyard vibe. I set the scene against a BetterPress dot grunge background, which adds texture and energy. The sentiment ties everything together and celebrates that timeless dad style. What is great about the is there’s a way to make a feminine card as well!

- Press the background with blue ink on Malibu cardstock. Trim and add panel to an A-2 size card base. Press the sentiment with the same set and trim.
- Cut the sneakers, grill tools, condiment bottle, and hotdog with dies in the March Large Die of the Month Kit from a variety of cardstock colors. Assemble.
- Add the assembled items and sentiment to the prepared card base with glue and foam squares.

Elizabeth Craft | Spring Rain Mice Card

Hello! Today’s card features the charming Big Mouse and Little Mouse die sets from Elizabeth Craft Designs, ready for the spring rain. I intentionally kept the design streamlined by choosing patterned paper for the background rather than building a die-cut scene. I finished the design with a BetterPress sentiment that reads “Hello, Sweet Friend.”

- Cover a 6-inch square card base with patterned paper.
- Press the sentiment and cut with the coordinating die.
- Cut the Little Mouse, Big Mouse, and Fall Accessories from Soft Finish Cardstock. Color with Distress Oxide inks (Tattered Rose, Black Soot, Spun Sugar, Blueprint Sketch, Candied Apple, Squeezed Lemonade, Hickory Smoke) and assemble.
- Add the assembled mice and sentiment to the card base.

Elizabeth Craft | Dog Scene

Hello! Today, I’m sharing a large scene card created with the Dogs and Garden Edges and Fence die sets from Elizabeth Craft Designs. I love building vignettes with these dies, and this one came together as a countryside setting complete with hills, flowers, a classic mailbox, and of course, a sweet dog. All of the pieces were cut from soft finish cardstock and colored with Distress Oxide inks (after cutting), which adds depth and softness to the scene while keeping everything cohesive.

- Cut the Dog, color, and assemble. You can see other cards created with this die set HERE, HERE, and HERE.
- Cut the Garden Edges and Fence pieces, hand-color, and trim to fit a card base measuring 7 inches wide.
- Print a computer-generated sentiment or stamp sentiment on to white cardstock and cut with the Garden Edges and Fence cloud die. Trim.
- Adhere the assembled pieces to a card base measuring 7 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches tall. Add the dog, flowers, and post box with foam adhesive.

Brewing Luck for St. Patrick’s Day

Hello! Six years ago, I created a card featuring a Paper Smooches teapot and mugs. Rather than starting from scratch for St. Patrick’s Day, I revisited that same layout with most of the original products giving them a fresh seasonal twist. By swapping in shamrocks and creating a simple “Brewing Luck” sentiment on my computer, this familiar design feels completely new. It’s a good reminder that our supplies aren’t limited to the occasion we first used them for. With a small shift in theme, they can stretch beautifully into holidays like St. Patrick’s Day.

- With the Paper Smooches Coffee & Tea die set, cut the tea pot, tea bag, and cups. For the teapot, cut the pot twice, the second time trimming off the bottom part to make the lid.
- Create the sentiment on a computer and add to a patterned paper panel. To quiet the pattern, adhere vellum with double-sided adhesive. Add the assembly to a patterned paper card base measuring 4 inches square.
- Embellish with shamrocks cut from glitter paper. (I used a Taylored Expressions Little Bits Shamrocks die set.)

Elizabeth Craft Designs | Shaped Roses

Hello! When I work with the Paper Flowers Collection at Elizabeth Craft Designs, I like to take my time shaping each floral layer so that the roses feel full and realistic. For this 5″ x 7″ Thank You card, I created a vase arrangement with roses, small flowers, and leaves, letting the dimension do most of the work. I tucked a stamped tag sentiment into the bouquet for a finishing touch. The patterned paper background adds color without competing with the flowers.

- Cover a 5″ x 7″ card base with patterned paper.
- Cut the Fancy Vase from Gold cardstock and assemble.
- Cut the Rose from Soft Finish Cardstock, color with Distress Inks, and assemble. I used Saltwater Taffy, Peeled Paint, and Rustic Wilderness.
- Cut additional greenery with die in the Greenery Fillers 01 set (now retired) or similar. Color and shape. Cut small flowers with die in the set, color with Copic YG0000, and shape. Add a Dress My Craft thread pollen to the center.
- Stamp the sentiment and cut with a tag die. I used a now retired Stampin’ Up Timeless Tropical stamp and a MFT tag die.
- Place the vase on the prepared base with foam squares. Glue the roses, small flowers, and greenery to the card.