Right as Rain - Cardmaking and Scrapbooking with Jean Manis

Spellbinders | Christmas Time Gnome

Hello! Rev up your holiday cardmaking with this Christmas card featuring a whimsical gnome behind the wheel of a sports car, loaded with festive presents! Created with Spellbinders die sets, this card brings together playful charm and holiday spirit, making it a perfect choice for spreading cheer. Created with an exclusive BetterPress plate, the “Christmas time” sentiment adds the final touch to this joyful scene. Scroll for information on the BOGO sale at Spellbinders, now through August 25, 2024.

- Create A2-size card base with glitter cardstock.
- Cut Snowdrift cardstock with the largest die in the Emerald Cut Labels set and add to the card base.
- Cut Sea Glass cardstock with the Starshine Background die and then with the next largest die in the Emerald Cut Labels set. Use the same die in the set to cut white glitter cardstock and trim to create the snowbank. Add snowbank to Sea Glass panel, add assembly to the Emerald Cut Labels mat, and add to the card base.
- Cut gnome and sports car with dies in the Gnome Drive set from a variety of cardstock colors and textures. Cut packages with dies in the Delivering Joy Sleigh set. Assemble car, gnome, and packages as required and add entire assembly to the card with white foam adhesive.
- BetterPress the sentiment in gold metallic ink on Snowdrift cardstock with the All Seasons Winter Press Plate. Cut with coordinating die included with the set. Add sentiment to panel with white foam adhesive.
- Embellish with Gold Mix Gems.

Queen & Co. | Christmas Exotic Animals

Hello! Today, I am sharing Christmas shaker cards created with the Exotic Creatures set from Queen & Co. This set is an add-on set to the Go Safari kit. The x and x are ready for Christmas with the Santa Hat die set, which works with several of the previously released kits.

The Exotic Creatures kit includes dies with which to create a panda, a sloth, a koala, and a penguin. I created cards with the panda and koala. Additionally, I used the Heartfelt Holiday, Santa’s Workshop, and Winter Wonderland paper pads, various foundation dies, Border Bonanza 2, and the Holiday Pops and Holiday Sequins for the shaker elements.

I shared similar Christmas cards HERE.

Spellbinders | Elegant Christmas Sleigh Card

Hello! Today I am pivoting back to Christmas and sharing a card that embodies the elegance and joy of the season. Crafted with Spellbinders die sets, the card features a festive sleigh brimming with beautifully wrapped packages. The card’s rich greens, golds, and reds add traditional holiday warmth.

- Create an A-2-size card base from Brushed Gold cardstock.
- Cut Snowdrift cardstock with the largest die in the Emerald Cut Labels set and add to the card base.
- With the next-to-largest die in the Emerald Cut Labels set, cut both patterned paper and Snowdrift cardstock. Use one of the dies in the Color Block Scenic Scape set to cut a snowbank from the Snowdrift piece. Add snowbank to patterned paper, add assembly to card.
- With the Delivering Joy Sleigh set, cut sleigh, packages, greenery, and sentiment from a variety of cardstock colors and textures. Assemble as required. Add to card background.

Elizabeth Craft Designs | Autumn Scene

Hello! As the colors of fall begin to grace the trees, I was inspired to capture the season’s beauty on my latest card creation. Using the Elizabeth Craft Designs Floral Foliage 1 die set, I crafted a scene featuring a wooden barrel overflowing with realistically colored autumn leaves. The set includes a birdhouse, complete with a pair of birds. You can find more fall-themed handmade card inspiration HERE.

- Create a 5″ x 7″ card base. Cover the base with patterned paper, cut with the largest die in the 5″ x 7″ Matting Basics A set. (I used Simple Stories patterned paper from several years ago designed by Katie Pertiet; she is now creating products for 49 & Market.)
- With the Floral Foliage 1 set, cut pieces from Soft Finish cardstock, and color with Distress Inks. I used Brushed Silver cardstock for the bands on the barrel. Shape colored leaves with ball stylus tools. Add Finnabair black micro beads for the bird’s eyes.
- Stamp sentiment (SU set) in Potting Soil ink; cut with small tag die (I used a now-retired MFT tag.)

Looking for more inspiration? I previously used the Floral Foliage 1 die set on a Christmas card HERE. Save 10% off your entire order (with a minimum purchase of USD $25) at Elizabeth Craft Designs with the code PNWMANIS.

Fall & Halloween Cards: Autumn Inspiration

Hello fall! Here in the Pacific Northwest, there is a little bit of fall in the air and the days have grown shorter. To embrace the season in my cardmaking, I am revisiting fall-themed cards (including Halloween) in my blog archive, from the warm hues of harvest and cozy comforts of sweater weather to the playful spookiness of Halloween. Click on the card image to be taken to the original post.

Embrace the cozy weather with a card featuring a novelty sweater and a knitted pattern background.

Send a warm greeting with a card that captures the beauty of fall.

Celebrate the harvest season with cards showcasing pumpkins piled high in a rustic cart.

Bring a whimsical touch to Halloween on a card featuring a gnome dressed as a wizard cruising in a sporty car.

Haunted houses never go out of style, as seen on this card featuring an abandoned house with bats, ghosts, and a glowing full moon.

Observations As I look at the cards, I see that I used dry-embossed backgrounds or woodgrain elements on the fall cards for texture. Additionally, the color orange appeared on all of the cards. I did not include any Thanksgiving cards in this roundup; although I have made a few over the years, it is not an occasion for which I regularly make cards.

I hope this roundup sparks your imagination to create your own fall-themed cards. What are some of your favorite products with this theme? Do you have products on your “to buy” list with this theme?