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.

The Hero Arts Tropic Like It’s Hot event ends 6/29/2025.

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!