cardmaking - Right as Rain

Hero Arts | Retro Cassette Hello Card

Hello! I’m taking it back to the days of mixtapes and boomboxes with this retro-inspired thank you card! I used the July 2025 Mix Tape – Hero Studio Die set from Hero Arts to create a die-cut cassette tape, with the tape spelling a playful “hello.” I paired the cassette with patterned paper to complete the vintage theme—perfect for music lovers, ’70s and ’80s fans, or anyone who appreciates a throwback vibe in their paper crafts.

- Cut patterned paper panel and adhere to a brushed silver cardstock base.
- With the Mix Tape die set, cut cassette and sentiment pieces from a variety of cardstock colors. Assemble. I doubled up the sentiment to create a drop shadow.
- Add assembly to card base with foam adhesive.

This design is easy to customize—change up the cassette or label colors to match your theme or leave off the tape-written sentiment and add a different message elsewhere on the card.

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.

Newton’s Nook | Celebrate the Fourth

Hello! I’m celebrating the 4th of July with a playful handmade card featuring a cat and dog riding in a wagon decked out in red, white, and blue! The adorable image, from Newton’s Nook, is perfect for patriotic crafting. I typically reach for watercolor markers, but this time I opted for my Kuretake Gansai Tambi pans for a fresh take. I decided I wanted to ~~torture myself~~ explore a different watercolor medium that I haven’t used in several years.

- Cover an A2-size card base with patterned paper.
- Stamp the 4th of July stamp image on to watercolor cardstock. Color with medium of choice. Cut with coordinating die set.
- Stamp the sentiment onto cardstock and cut with a rectangular die. Add the watercolored image with foam adhesive.
- Add embellishments to the panel (I used Taylored Expressions white epoxy stars from my stash) and add to card base.

Retro Kitchen Collection: Second Helping

Hello! I’m back with another handmade card featuring those irresistible vintage Pyrex dishes—this time in a landscape format! I used the same Hero Arts products from my previous project to craft two charming kitchen shelves, each stamped with part of the sentiment: “You’re not old, you’re retro” and “No one measure up to you.” The dishes are stacked in a mix of blue, red, and sunny yellow, but you can easily customize the palette for any season or holiday.

- Create an A2-size Alabaster card base. Adhere a 4″ x 5 1/4″ panel of patterned paper to the base.
- Stamp the On the Shelf sentiments in blue ink on to Alabaster cardstock and cut with the shelf die in the 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. Cut two spoons with the same die set.
- Add the stacks of dishes to the shelves and attach to the prepared card base. Add the die-cut spoons.

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!