die cuts - Right as Rain

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.

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!

Spellbinders | Cheerful Bird Card

Hello! Today I’m sharing a bright and cheerful handmade card featuring a colorful bird framed within an arched frame. Using the same Spellbinders bird die set and sentiment set as a previous design, I gave this card a new twist by changing up the bird colors and using an arch. The sentiment, “Hope your day soars with laughter and fun,” brings an uplifting message suitable for birthdays, encouragement, or any joyful occasion. This card is a great reminder of how versatile a single die set can be!

- Stamp the Spread Your Wings sentiment on a Waterfall cardstock panel. Cut with the second largest arch in the Essential Arches set and add to an arch cut from white cardstock with the largest die in the same set. Add assemble to an A2-size based covered with patterned paper. (I used Simple Stories Just Beachy.)
- Cut the bird with dies in the Flying High set from a variety of colors. Assemble and add to card.
- Embellish with Enamel Dots.

Hero Arts | Beach Snapshots

Hello! There’s something wonderfully calming about the ocean, and I wanted to capture that peaceful vibe on this handmade card. Using Hero Arts products, I created a design that looks like eight different snapshots of the same beach. The repetition adds rhythm, while soft blues, sandy neutrals, and sunny yellows bring the coastal scene to life. At the center, a playful “Hi Ya” sentiment ties everything together for a lighthearted, summery hello.

- - Create an A2-size card base from Fawn cardstock.
  - With dies in the Summer Memories – Hero Studio Die Set of the Month (June 2025) set, cut photo frames, skies, suns, oceans, surfs, and beaches from a variety of cardstock colors (see list below). Find more Die Set of the Month inspiration HERE.
  - Assemble scenes and add to the prepared card base.
  - With the Hiya Friend stamp set, which is this month’s Whole Studio Subscription bonus item, stamp the sentiment and cut with the coordinating die. Add to the center of the card with foam adhesive.

Now at Hero Arts from June 11-18, 2025, get $25 off sales of $150 or more.