birthday - Right as Rain

Simon Hurley Birthday Bear

When a birthday card is meant for a child, a playful focal point and clear design go a long way. For this card, I used the Birthday Bear die set created by Simon Hurley, part of the Spellbinders Sending Hugs Collection, letting a patterned paper background guide my color choices for the bear’s hat and gift. A Polaroid-style frame helps contain the scene. The versatility of this die set really shines, since it’s easy to swap colors to suit a girl or a boy, and you can choose to build either a sweet panda or a more traditional bear.

- Cover an A2-size card base with patterned paper.
- With the Birthday Bear die set, cut the bear, hat, sentiment, and present. Assemble as necessary.
- Cut the Frame and add the assembled bear to the inside of the frame, securing along the bottom. Add a patterned paper background to the back and add the assembly to the card base.
- Add the sentiment, sentiment banner, and hat.

Spellbinders | Hummingbirds Birthday Card

Hello! Birthdays are one of those card-sending occasions that never go out of style, and that’s part of what makes them so satisfying to create. For this card, I used the Spellbinders January Large Die of the Month, Hummingbirds Delight, and leaned fully into color, which is a welcome change this time of year. The die set includes a beautiful frame, which makes it easy to anchor the design and add a sentiment along the bottom.

While I chose a birthday greeting here, this design easily adapts to many occasions including thank you or thinking of you, by swapping out the sentiment.

- Create an A2-size card base from Blue Spruce cardstock.
- Using the Large Die set frame die, cut the frame, leaves, flowers, and hummingbirds from a variety of cardstock colors. Assemble as necessary.
- Add the floral piece to the backside of the frame.
- Dry-emboss Seaside cardstock with the Cloud Nine folder and secure to the bottom portion of the frame. Place the assembly on to the card base. You need the top to be open to tuck the elements under the frame.
- Add the elements to the top and sides of the frame. Secure frame to the dry-embossed background.
- Press the You are Everything sentiment and add to the frame.
- Add hummingbirds with foam squares.

Hero Arts | Playful Ghost Birthday Card

Hello! For an October birthday, I wanted to create something festive with a hint of Halloween fun. Using several Hero Arts products, I put together a playful card featuring a ghost holding a bundle of bright balloons. The background is full of color, and the simple “boo” sentiment ties it all together. What’s great about this design is its flexibility—you can easily change the balloon colors to suit any season or celebration, and in this case, the ghost adds a perfect nod to the time of year.

- Cover a 5″ x 7″ card base with a patterned paper panel.
- Cut the balloons and strings with the Balloon Bunch die set and assemble. (I previously used the balloon die HERE.)
- Cut the ghost with dies in the Boo to You set and assemble.
- Stamp the Season’s Creepings sentiment and cut with the coordinating die.
- Add balloons, ghost, and sentiment to prepared base with dot and foam adhesive.

Hero Arts | Boho Birthday Balloons

Hello! I’m sharing a handmade birthday card that’s all about color and celebration—without being overly sweet. This design features die-cut balloons in a warm, boho-inspired color palette paired with a stamped background and a bold birthday sentiment. It’s the kind of card that feels festive yet grown-up, perfect for an adult birthday. I used a mix of Hero Arts products to bring this look together.

- Stamp the Ocean Waves background on to Classic White cardstock with gold ink. Trim and add to an A2-size card base.
- With the Balloon Bunch dies, cut the balloon base and bow from gold cardstock. Cut balloons from desired cardstock colors. Adhere the balloons to the balloon base.
- Heat-emboss the sentiment and cut with the coordinating die.
- Add the balloon assembly to the prepared base with foam squares. Attach the bow and sentiment.

This card comes together quickly with just a few basic die cuts and a stamped background—simple, but impactful. Swap out the boho tones for bright primaries or soft pastels, and you’ll have an entirely different look to suit any recipient or season.

Hero Arts | Retro Kitchen Collection

Hello! Today, I’m sharing a playful card created with Hero Arts products from the Retro Kitchen Collection, a nostalgic nod to vintage cookware and cozy kitchens. I focused on the coordinating stamp and die sets featuring stacked Pyrex-style dishes, crafting them in a charming palette of dusty blue, red, and yellow. The sentiment “You’re not old, you’re retro” adds just the right touch of humor. This card would delight anyone with a vintage collection—or simply a love for organizing colorful dishes in tidy stacks. With a quick change in color scheme, it’s easy to imagine holiday-inspired versions too!

To get a balanced set—both in shape and color—I created nearly every dish variation included in the die set in the three colors. It felt a bit like building my own curated collection, not unlike a true vintage enthusiast who hunts down every last piece for their shelf!

- Stamp the On the Shelf sentiment in black ink on to an A2-size patterned paper. Add to card base. (This stamp set is also sold with a coordinating die set.)
- Cut the dishes with the Classic Casserole set from desired cardstock colors. I chose to back the dishes with Alabaster cardstock, rather than white, for a more vintage. Assemble.
- Add stacks of dishes to prepared card base with foam adhesive.

Do you collect vintage dishes or know someone who does? I’d love to hear about it!