Newton’s Nook | Mixed Media Birthday Card

Hello! Lately, I have been practicing a number of techniques including watercoloring and foiling with a laminator. I have used both on this birthday card that features supplies from Newton’s Nook. While I intend to use the card for a birthday, the image, sentiment, and background would work for other occasions.

Newton's Nook | Mixed Media Birthday Card

  • To create focal image, stamp Sky High Celebrations image with VersaFine ink on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper. Heat set and watercolor with markers (markers linked in the supply list, colors used below). Once dry, cut image with coordinating die.
    Balloons + Bird: Tombow Warm Red, Zig Orange, Tombow Process Yellow, Zig May Green, Zig Persian Blue, Zig Cobalt Blue, Zig Deep Violet
    Dog: Tombow Burnt Sienna, Tombow Light Sand, Tombow Lamp Black
    Cat: Zig Warm Gray 5, Tombow Lamp Black, Tombow Pale Pink
  • To create background, apply Blueprint Sketch, Mermaid Lagoon, and Salvaged Patina Distress inks to white cardstock. Apply the same inks again with one of the Balloon stencils in place (the set contains two stencils).
  • Apply Therm O Web Transfer Gel to panel using the other Balloon stencil. (I masked the balloons in the lower-right corner where I wanted to stamp the sentiment.) Set aside to dry.
  • Apply White Latte flock to the stenciled panel. (I used a Minc Mini set on 5 and allowed to heat for at least 15 minutes.) Stamp the Sky High Celebrations sentiment in lower-right corner with VersaFine ink. Trim panel, attach to card base, and add watercolored Sky High Celebrations image with foam adhesive.

Newton's Nook | Mixed Media Birthday Card


Spellbinders | Happy Birthday Balloons

Hello! Today, I am sharing a birthday card created with the Spellbinders Color Block Balloons die set. Again, I am using the design principle of repetition – on the card, there are ten balloons of different colors. I used the Color Block Balloons die set on another card here.

Spellbinders | Happy Birthday Balloons

  • With the smallest die in the Color Block Balloons set, cut balloons from colored cardstock and the highlight piece and string from Snowdrift cardstock. Assemble.
  • Stamp Let’s Celebrate sentiment in black on Snowdrift. Cut with a banner die. (I used one that accompanied a glimmer foil sentiment set.)
  • Add balloons and sentiment to Sea Glass card base.

Spellbinders | Happy Birthday Balloons


Spellbinders | Hearts and Mugs

Hello! Today I am sharing a birthday card created with small die-cuts, cut with Spellbinders dies. The card uses one of my favorite design principles – repetition. The same design could easily be used for a friendship card or Valentine.

Spellbinders | Hearts and Mugs

Spellbinders | Hearts and Mugs


Spellbinders | Advent Calendar Day Four

Hello! Today I am sharing a mini-slimline birthday card created with the Day Four surprise in the Crafty Advent Calendar from Spellbinders– a versatile “Happy Birthday” sentiment die set. Follow along on the Spellbinders blog for daily inspiration.

Spellbinders | Advent Calendar Day Four

Spellbinders | Advent Calendar Day Four


Spellbinders | Camper Life Winter Birthday

Hello! I am sharing a winter birthday card featuring the incredibly versatile Camper Life die set, part of the Warm Wishes Camper Collection at Spellbinders. Check out all the new collections here. I used the Camper Life die set on a Halloween card and a holiday card. Scroll for details about the Spellbinders  Back to School Sale that runs until August 28, 2022, 11:59 PST.

Spellbinders | Camper Life Winter Birthday

  • I created the background snow by applying Deco Foil Blanco Transfer Gel through the Layered Christmas Tree stencil on to Cosmic Sky cardstock. In order to cover the entire background (the card is 5 inches wide by 7 inches tall) I stenciled twice. Once dry, I added the panel to a card base.
  • With the Camper Life die set, I cut the camper and snowbank from Snowdrift, LagoonPhone Booth, Timber, Beeswax, white glitter, and silver foil cardstock.
  • I heat-embossed the Sweet & Savory sentiment on Lagoon cardstock and cut it with a Spellbinders banner die.
  • I added the camper assembly, snowbank, and sentiment to the card background.

Spellbinders | Camper Life Winter Birthday