Jean Manis - Right as Rain

Valentine Card with Colorful Birdhouses

Hello! This Valentine’s Day card features three charming birdhouses in vibrant colors, set against a softly embossed sky filled with hearts. The playful “I ❤️ U” sentiment adds a sweet and simple message, making this card a delightful way to celebrate love. Keep reading to see how I brought this cheerful Valentine design to life!

- Cover an A-2 size card base with a panel of patterned paper.
- Use a scallop oval die to cut a white oval and add to the card base. I used a now-retired Spellbinders set.
- With the Sunny Studio Stamps Build-A-Birdhouse set, cut the birdhouses and birds from a variety of cardstock colors. Assemble.
- With an oval die, cut teal cardstock and dry-emboss. I used a coordinating die from the aforementioned set and a now-retired Spellbinders embossing folder. With the same oval die, cut an oval from white cardstock. Cut off the top of the oval with a snow hill die.
- Cut the Speech Bubbles sentiment and add to the snow hill.
- Add the assembled birdhouses and birds to the dry-embossed oval; trim the birdhouse posts as needed. Add the snow hill piece to the front.

I shared a spring-themed card with the same birdhouse die set HERE.

Whimsical Gnome-Themed Valentine Card

Hello! Ready to add a touch of whimsy to your Valentine’s Day? This handmade card features a gnome standing beside a charming mushroom house, accompanied by a friendly snail and a heartfelt “love you” sentiment. Crafted using Spellbinders dies, this card celebrates the season of love with a dash of whimsy!

- Dry-emboss Sea Glass cardstock A2-size panel with the Tiny Dots folder; add to card base.
- Adhere strip of dark gray cardstock (Taylored Expressions Poppy Seed) along the bottom as a ground.
- Cut the house and snail from cardstock with the Mushroom Mansion die set; assemble.
- Cut the gnome with dies in the Garden Buddies set; assemble.
- Cut the heart wand and embellishment hearts with dies in the Parcel & Post Heart Decorations set.
- Cut the sentiment from black cardstock and vellum with dies in the Space Greetings set; assemble.
- Add assembled items to the card base with dot and foam adhesive.

Looking for more inspiration with these dies? Check out this fall-themed card.

Storybook House Valentine

Hello! After posting this roundup of house-themed cards, I was inspired to craft a storybook house Valentine with a heart serving as the house body. Using Lawn Fawn dies for the roof, door, and windows, I transformed a simple idea into a whimsical creation full of charm. Let me take you through how I made this Valentine’s Day card

- The overall card size is 5″ square. I do not own a die that size, but I realized I could use by rectangular die to cut the sky and the ground to form a square. To begin, use a 5″ x 3 3/4″ rectangle die to cut light teal cardstock. Apply modeling paste through the Fall Hearts stencil and set aside to dry.
- Stamp the Simply Celebrate Hearts sentiment on white cardstock. Cut the top with a die in the Simple Stitched Hillside Borders set and the base with a 5″ x 3 3/4″ rectangle die. Adhere the sky and snowbank to a 5″ square card base.
- Use a heart die to cut the house base from textured red cardstock. I used a now-retired nesting set from Spellbinders.
- Use dies in the Build-A-House, Scalloped Treat Box Spring House Add-On, and Scalloped Treat Box Beach House Add-On sets to cut the door, window, roof pieces, and stairs; assemble as required.
- Add the assembled elements to the heart house with foam adhesive. Add the assembly to the card base.

Charming House-Themed Cards

Hello! Depictions of houses on cards evoke a sense of comfort, nostalgia, and storytelling, inviting the viewer into a miniature world of charm and personality. My fascination with houses began in childhood, sparked by the illustration of the “Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe” in Mother Goose. In this post, I’m sharing a roundup of cards from my blog archive where houses take center stage. Click on the card image to be taken to the original post for additional details.

Of all the dies in my collection, I’ve used the Lawn Fawn Build-a-House die set and its add-ons more than any other. It’s perfect for crafting scenes that suit a variety of seasons and occasions, from Halloween haunts to cozy Christmas cottages.

Mushroom houses bring a touch of whimsy to handmade cards. Here are two cards that showcase these charming homes: one with a stamped and watercolored design and another with a die-cut mushroom house. Both cards include playful gnomes adding to the magical and storybook-like feel of these creations.

The cards below feature beach huts (day-use structures perfect for seaside relaxation). These designs are perfect for sending warm and sunny wishes, no matter the season.

Smaller customizable house die sets offer possibilities for creating charming scenes. The card below shows two homes crafted from the same set, complete with trees and a picket fence for a picture-perfect neighborhood feel.

While I do have cards featuring birdhouses, lighthouses, dog houses, garden sheds, and garages, this roundup focuses on traditional and whimsical homes leaving the others for another time.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this roundup of house-themed cards! Revisiting these designs has inspired me to pull out my house-themed products and start creating more scenes! Do you use the house motif in your own cardmaking? What stamps and/or dies do you own that feature houses? Do you have any on your wishlist?

Spellbinders | Underwater Scene Card

Hello! Dive into creativity with this underwater-themed card featuring Spellbinders supplies! A Polaroid-style frame showcases the underwater scene, complete with die-cut fish and a debossed dot pattern for the water.

The dry-embossed, rope-textured card base adds a nautical touch, while the sentiment conveys a heartwarming message. Whether for a birthday, a thank-you note, or just a thoughtful gesture, this card is sure to brighten anyone’s day.

- With the All Wrapped Up folder, dry-emboss green cardstock. Add to an A2-size card base.
- Cut the frame with the Memory Frames die from white cardstock. Stamp the Typewriter Adventure sentiment in black. Polaroid-style frames not only showcase the focal image but also provide space to stamp a sentiment.
- With the Tiny Dots folder, dry-emboss a teal cardstock panel. Add to the back of the Polaroid frame, leaving room at the bottom of the scene area to tuck in the plants.
- With the Underwater Marine Life and Underwater Tunnel die sets cut the fish and plants from a variety of cardstock colors. Assemble as required.